NATIONWIDE & INTERNATIONAL 5-31-21

NATIONWIDE & INTERNATIONAL EDITION

FEATURED AGENTS

FEATURED AGENTS BRANDON GREENPLATE FREEMAN CORBIN HOPE ALLAIN-BOYCE IRENE BAUSMAN LISA CIOFANI SCOTT HOWANICE AGATA KOWALCZYK LAUREN TAYLOR STEVE FREEMAN TOM PARRISH ALAN WILABY

COVER STORY

DANIELLE BEITZ GARY GARDINER ANDREW FINNEY BARBARA BARDACH CARMEN JIMENEZ CHRIS SCHUMAKER ERIC TAM EUGENE KHUTORYANSKIY HEATHER SPADOLA JACKIE BARTHEL JAKE TASHARSKI KATE MIKHAYLOVA LINDSEY REED LISA HORAN LOGAN HALL MICHAEL MILLER ROBYN BOOTH SAM BOATMAN SASHA ALEXANDER GUREVICH

JOHN & RENEE PROCENKO Honesty & Integrity: Keys to Success Top Agent Magazine

1

NATIONWIDE & INTERNATIONAL EDITION

undstrom is proud to congratulate

DON GREENPLATE

FREEMAN CORBIN HOPE ALLAIN-BOYCE

IRENE BAUSMAN

Broker Bausman –The of persistent line of contact that Hopestone untur she was working Award-winning a job in from kitchen When Freeman Corbin was young, he spent the ground up.Irene He regularly works LISA CIOFANI While 13 decided 21 of hermum expos Madlom Real Estate in Lone Tree,17 Colorado design, Hope Allain-Boyce she a lot of time with his parents8who were both with a wide variety of clients, deals, andkeeps with her clients is a feature Realtors and land developers. With this early andtruly has found success in service that many people look for in ausage needed something more– flexible while is a circumstances, hardworking, dedicated real

of so

insight into the world of business interaction, navigating Freeman has found a lotRealtor, and it sets her apart a premier was taking ofestate her new baby. them. eer change, she To market her she listings, Lisacareuses a comprehensive approach professional who consistently places bined, this Freeman became a lifelong entrepreneur, ofhome joy in his new career, especially in theoption in Maine.

She got licensed as a Realtor in her the needs of methods, her clients includfront and center dollar, not ment of starting friends, that combines traditional andimmediately innovative several businesses over the course way to interact with state of Maine and fell that in he has been able during each and every transaction.

Honest, of his adulthood and experiencing the love full with the job. Through people in his community and offer them relaers, and gamut for ofher ing postcards theand social mediabuilding campaigns.

Leveraging peopleWhen it comes to marketing her list-continue to successes and failures along tionships genuineand aid. “I really love helping dependable possessing a wealth ings, of Hope focuses on social media with her clients and learning been one therecently,her extensive network, Lisaof advertises to their her goals,” professional way.of More he has come full circle, Freeman. “I feel that the ins and outs real estateachieve transindustry knowledge, Irene has a proven advertising to push her brand into theFor proof o getting licensed as a Realtor in Oregon in people have objectives, things they really actions, Hope has built an impressive ,” Lisa says, “so contacts, helping her clients secure competitive offers for world.

She also stays in contact withshe provid track record as an intelligent, compassionate FREEMAN CORBIN ALLAIN-BOYCE IRENE BAUSMAN 2017BRANDON and provingGREENPLATE himself as an elite agent want, and IHOPE find a lot of fulfillment in seeSCOTT HOWANICE career over the three years she’s been in and highly successful realthose. estate right off the bat. ing people accomplish I’veadvocate, found itmany of her clients past and presentthan Zillow their homes. the business, and she hopes to push her

through her Facebook page, and hasperfect, fiv very rewarding to become so before much closer has more than earned her stellar repuScott Howanice isn’t your typical real estate through this process are likely career even in my theand years tobeen come. built a33 wide network doing so. She closed 27 With the amount of business experience Freeman has,further it’s 25 29 39transac-many glow to community.” agent. With over 25 years of corporate and facing a far her different market than theyindid tation for helping buyers and sellers tions in 2020, and is working hard to see that number a no-brainer that he carries himself with poise andFor knowsLisa, it is the gratification of helpWall intimately Street experience, he’s able to offer Hope his and previously.

It’s just been changing that Denver Metro area achieve goals. both how to interact with clients histhe free time, Freeman enjoys spending time further in the in 2021. rise their even puts other a lot ofIneffort into her client interaction, ing someone find their perfect home clients a knowledge of finance and negotiafast.

And at Weichert Realtors, we’re able agents, and how to deftly negotiate transactions. beauty of business the Northwest outdoors with his two “I love se recognizing His that thenatural success of her is based tion business strategy savvy that most agents simply can’t to match buyers and his quickly has paid dividends for him onthat in hisofdrives He“I has very involved with commuher. tend to gravitate tofree onearly the quality thedaughters. relationships she builds with her By any measure, Irene has sellers lived avery fascinating life. spending Born quality whentime asked In local her time, Hope loves withwhat she e match.

He and andhis hisfamiliarity wife Lisa first through ourprogram advanced marketing campaigns career, with the became industry has As allowed nity – hetojoined thethat RAIN as mentor for people clients. such, she tries ensure she is doing her husband andGermany two daughters outside“I love wat andto raised in Poland, and having lived in for aadventuring for a living. people buying or selling their actual interested the business eighteen ago and search engine optimization tools, him toinkickstart his business to years high levels of success looking get their start-ups off the ground, and he did awhich everything she can to benefit her clients to the best and watching them grow up.

She hopes toeither continue short time, Irene emigrated to the United States in 1983, they get the keys t the firstopportunity, few years. He was building Rookie Year atand goes series of in-depth interviews with localget businesses help as anwithin investment while make sure our listings theor besttoexposure.” homes, whether they’re upgrading of of herthe ability, out of her way to meet their expanding her business well into the future, and in the Windemere his first year, and since then has maintained a them gain exposure, particularly valuable during the difspeaking very little English.

Since then, she has not only to sell their home and st their first home and flipping houses. “I really needs. “Idownsizing,” make a point of building trusting “I relationshort-term hopes to be licensed as a broker and start a says. love to see spot the in themarketing Top 5% of Producers in Lane County. ficultmastered timesLisa of COVID. For the future, Freeman wants to LISA CIOFANI SCOTT HOWANICE JOHN & RENEE PROCENKO AGATA KOWALCZYK AL enjoyed process, the negoScott loves helping his buyers find that perthesays.

English butmanagement she has also earnedIf you’re looking for ships with each of my clients,” Hope “I likelanguage, to property business. focus happy.” on growing hishouse, business and his group insellers the years my clients tiation, and made note of it as something I fect or helping his prepare JOHN & RENEE PROCENKO tell them, ‘I’m your newabest friend until we find you top-notch Master’s Degree inhigh Business Administration and held a Irene, in her down real estate service in Maine, look nowho further core of Freeman’s business is his clients, and he to come. If you’re looking for pull quality real value estate serHonesty & Integrity: Keys to Success mightThe be interested in pursuing someday.”a home.’” Clients recognize their home maximum from the with the Hope’s desire to to help and security clearance for fifteen years as a contractor garden – has big plans than Hope Allain-Boyce! centers his philosophy around pinpointing his clients’ vice in Oregon, look no further than Freeman Corbin!

45 51 62 market.

His relationship with57 them extends genuine interest in their Department well-being – she gets a large Security, specific objectives and helping them reach those goals to of Homeland among other notable Having recently been Committed to philanthropy and giving That the daybest came in 2018, decided he wanted far beyond the however, as he touches base portion of herto business from her closing referraltable, network, of his ability.when He isScott a business professional who achievements.

Irene, who also speaks Polish and German personnel, she looks fo moveenjoys into afinding career that wouldapproach give himtomore time with his to her withconsidering them several throughout especially impressive she times isLisa relatively back community, is activetheinyear to see if a creative solve problems for fluently, decided to obtain her real estate license in 2016, this will bring.

Aside f family and allow him to have more andin rewarding new the industry. there’s anything they need. clients, and he does what ahe doesdirect to provide asmany much organizations.

At a local school, a career that brings together all of her many skillsets and ing business, Irene main impact on people’s He got “Clients his license has never value for them lives. as possible. likeand working me Lisa spearhead music looked back. I’m straightforward with them,”While he gets time off,a Scott likesdeparttototravel with hisclients. fambecause Freeman says. helped provides exceptional value her many to continue providing working withWhen clients, Hope emphasizes first “I have a high bar for what I consider toand be ethical when ily.

He also enjoys the outdoors, going to the beach with foremost consistent and proper communication, impeccable customer s ment, donating and raising money for working withfascination a client, and givetransaction eachdelivering clientprocess,” detailed, “I have a natural withI the his promptly family, camping and skiing with his son, orIrene’s just doing information and succinctly while TOP 100 INDIVIDUAL RE/MAX AGENTS 2020 Currently, almost the entirety of considerable mous with her name. instruments.

She works regularly with treatment.”

He gives clientkeeping a comes personalized, DANIELLE BEITZ BROKER Scottpersonal explains, “but mostly myeach pleasure fromDIAMOND yard for work, which he finds mentally relaxing. herself available texts and phone calls.

She PARRISH 2020 CLUB AWARD LAUREN TAYLOR| STEVE FREEMAN TOM ALAN WILABY business is based upon returning clients, referrals and customized approach after getting to know them, on top BARBARA BARDACH helping people. There’s nothing better than watching my trustthrough shelters volunteering, aims to establish with her clients from the onset,and also of his standard process. Freeman’s clients love the way positive word-of-mouth, a significant in the clients’ children’s faces light up when theyand scream, ‘Look Going forward, he wants to continue growing achievement his busiis set on maintaining the security and satisfacby donating food, furniture, clothAs and a top-producing agent since the start In addition to enj he carefully guides them toward making the decisions highly competitive Denver market.

“It’s about the service at my yard!’ It’s extremely satisfying to betion a part bringness 70 and providing service.

66 73 74 of of each of her clients throughout the excellent transaction. of her customer real estate career in 2005,“This Barbara clients, Barbara st that are right for them.

ALAN WILABY about animals, Lisatransaction provide,” says Irene, when asked howashe ing people’s dreams to life.” hasget been ainway for me to every accomplish lot ofthe managed “I don’t ing. let any Passionate of business my Iclients left the dark,” approaches withhas local community highest level of professionalism and those she organizations. Sh Hope says.

“I give each of many them the the same respect and and different goals, most important of which is providing to inspire so much trust loyalty amongst After serving in the United crucial to Freeman’s versatility as a Realtor is second to works none – with animal shelters, as dedication to client satisfaction. Her terms on the Tuc Contact Freeman at (541) 517-0898, care, Ispending makeand sure they’re taken care of, and I keep Scott’s been very successful in that endeavor, for my family while offering something of deep value to along with holding a deep understanding of finance ® works with.

“I communicate well with all of my clients, You can contact Hope at (207) 431-5840 States Marine Corps for life Alan Wilaby began his journey in journ real Boae intimate knowledge of the premier REALTORS well, including aI cat email home@freemancorbinre.com, or visit myself available throughout the daysanctuary to keep respond tofounded the last three years serving clients around the Pompton my clients. want to that going.” interpersonal work relationships, Freeman is intimately is a supporter of areas of Tucson—in particular Oro or by email at hopeallain@gmail.com both past and present.

I do my due diligence, I work hard, when he was working as a hairstylist.

O nine years, Andrew Finney time and FreemanCorbinRE.com for more information any questions might have as soon Lisa as they is arise.” with construction, hisHe’s ownby home Plainsfamiliar and Pequannock, New having Jersey built area. also a friend. athey When not Community Found Valley, Dovebusy Mountain, and the Tucson and I take a sincere interest in the wellbeing of my clihis clients, a prominent Realtor, encou relocated to Las Vegas in the future grants to local non Foothills—and her expertise in luxury relocation specialist, helping people move either in or out helping clients giving back time, helping gated and properties have made ents. or I don’t justCopyright look ather thegolf paycheck or commission Alan to began getatinto the business.

“HeTucson’s saw p Top Agent Magazine 2013 and a of the States. For the past two years he’s won the New Copyright Topseeking Agent Magazine member of the A her a highly sought-after luxury agent she loves to be active by doing yoga, the end of the road, It’s all about my buyers and sellers.” tial in me,” Alan says.

“He kept telling Jersey Realtor’s Circle of Excellence Sales Award, closing career that spoke tothehis pas-(AREA).

For“Wethis Americas arem a and placed FINNEY her in the top 1% of All Tucson & Long BARDACH DANIELLE BEITZ GARY GARDINER ANDREW BARBARA 37 transactions for 12.4 million in sales volume in 2019estate professionals active in our lo Realty Agents.

I could sell real estate the way I sold hai dancing, swimming, or biking. Along with a close group of sion for helping others and earned a organizations whose goal is to imp 2020. With the help of his wife, who is also an agent and He was right! That was nearly forty years There are many reasons for Irene’s impressive success educational through leadership.” area, hav “I’m an individual agent,his so my clients work background ty, and passion, friends, Lisa loves to be outdoors.

Jonny Sundstrom | NMLS 1985546 a CPA, Scott has built a business that has grown steadily and I still Then, loveConsidering what I do.” story, and chief among them would her excellent exclusively with me until webe secure a contract.” in accounting. closi ness every stems from year.

“We don’t sell, we build relationships. People For moreon200 informat Barbara is focused continuing to Barbara’s husband intelligent and real estate partner Stu Bardach, negotiation skills and strategic, and compreinfluences, decided real estate level of service to all clients. also a retired Silicon Valleythese hi-tech executive, helps he come back to us because they trust that we have their best please ca ve working with Looking to the future, Lisa is committed to the continued With hisprovide long experience the industry hensive approach toensure marketing.

Supported

by Madlom her advice for in agents who are jus a smooth transaction is achieved.

“We interests at heart, and because of the combined knowledge to pursue his real estate license—and the rest is with the I don’t let them go,” she says.

“I don’t feel like it’s Danielle Beitz began her real estate career just over email Irene.B she suggests and selecting clientsmarketing with ‘above and beyond’ white-glove Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 versatile skill-set, his expertise, hisso Realown Estate’s excellent arm, Irene leavesservice no business, ravitate growth herI also business, and to her professional growth of thetowards financial dynamics that weof bring. have a long history.

Sure enough, found fast approach, success o be an expert.in “I focusscribers on a particula time,” she explains Andrew when asked about her high I’mevery always doing 10 years ago. “I had started watching home shows a job. I’m very high-energy and client-centered Alan has conhistory in home construction and the negotiating process.” try to be everything to everybody. of repeatfit. and erything can be, Danielle as well. ofhooked. the things I’ve learned is the ofreferral business. so real estate and Iimportance arerates a natural on HGTV,” recalls,“One “and I got I something,

being featured for the State of Carolina in Top Agent Magazine!

GARY GARDINER JR.

A

WFINNEY ANDREW

www.

jonny@beaufortlending.com STEVE

FREEMAN

the industry, ranking in the top 3% ofbeen local agents by videos mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com sistently a an top producing agent into area or specialization that they

knew I wanted to go into either interior decorating love“I it.”have several designations me, itAjust makes ongoing education,” LisaI just says. the end of 2014.

Skiponahead to today, heIf leads the o you focus on Real whatnuances you love, you Barbara prides herself her attention to detail and ERA ® and huge advantage of that is courses being to posi- history in Contact his company, Shields Estate. or real estate, so I experience started taking ina both.

REALTORS Withable family real estate, Gary GardinCommitment to Excellence Scott at 973-768-4348 you do it well you may love it even educating clients throughout the transaction process.

Andrew Finney Team through the King Realty Group, s been motto and Igoing want toestate, earn more. love that job helps meas to contionmy his Once clients well in the market.

“Many of I started the course in real I loved it myIWhen it comes tothis marketing her listings well ascare to listen to each has explains. alsoin earned national recogniShe takes great client’s needs er’s entrance into this industry a natural one.

He ment,”HeGary “I feel like the more e or emailwas Scotth.weichert@gmail.com success with social andfirst-time I knew this was what I but wanted to those do. I who’ve had herself, Danielle finds greatwhere homebuyers, even he clients throughout the entirenamed Vegasin theGoing for order toassists find out what they truly hope to get out has of thebeen tion, and top 1% day clients in a are house. tinue to grow and push myself.

One agent said to me, ‘You started off his professional career in law enforcement, have the better, it’s really given me a ton of my license within half a year, and I never watched process. “I have an uncanny ability to listen between area.

Also an acclaimed Youtube influencer, Andrew of his bu of agents nationwide based on annual another because I became the show!” the lines and discern what clients really want.

My goal out sales for me.show again, never really have toover retire.’

That resonated, because I just and after two decades, he was ready for a change. so I’m able to stand out at a higher level.”

Copyright Top Agent Magazine now built a nationwide fanbase around his values streamlin sales volume.

Serving Denver, to Colorado for every transaction win-win.”

The rest is history, and Danielle’s real estate busi- family is made up ofhas “My whole entrepreneurs, so is a fair does Gary utilize knowledge assist h 2 someTopthis Agent Magazine of putting want to keep helping people.

I’d like to expand myopenness, team ness has grown year over year as she helps more Springs, to and Pueblo, Alan has the expeof integrity, and attention detail. efficiency Barbara’s prior 18-year highly successful career as I always knew I would end up following that path,” he also uses it to help his real estate agents gr and more clientsand achieve their real estate goals. mentor younger agents, too. My door is always open: rience and the knowledge to provide the comm a sales and business development executive in the

UREN TAYLOR

he says. Today he is the team leader of The Gardiner

has clearly paid off. Year after year, Gary has

ERIC TAM CARMEN JIMENEZ

CHRIS SCHUMAKER

EUGENE KHUTORYANSKIY

Tam’s entry And at all times, always providing Eric While living in Pasadena, Chris menez, entering the to my amazing office assistant, who mannerstreak of qu With quick a desire to helpand others and an interest replies answering her into Schumaker loved the Realtor who selling resitry was a serendip77 is also my daughter, Suzy.”

78 the house buy in real estate, Khutoryanskiy phone.

“I tryEugene to help81 my clients dential real 82 was doinghelped a lot of her buy her home. When estate racer, house itself. T followed and Through became an to thehis bestinstincts of my ability. it came time to sell, she lookedAfter the transaction is over, buyers each, volunteering mmunity, and me andgettin my wif agent.honesty It was and one dedication, of the bestI decisions make began with a loss. for helpthat Realtor, but it turned outand sellers leave glowing reviews she explains. ONE about their time together. One and helped he’s ever made.

“After aever fewleft years in the “I was in commersure clients aren’t in the she had already left the business. out thm ended up being real recently said, “Carmen’s expertise smooth and e healthcare gradually worked dark,” field ChrisIsays.

“My goal is tomy lieu of finding another Realtor,and wealth of resources made my ons, and In Carmen also the team thata way make up to every full-time within the client.” span of a cial real estate for ad an interest in thedecided to get her license home buying process a breeze. Her client a happy Chris e earned her license attention to me and my it genuinely f year, Chris and Igets haven’t looked backfrom since,” a short time. When of my all of her business and sell her house on her own.personal und running. Based needs made me feel at ease. Carmen the same page he says.

“After a few months, I knew this repeat clients, and it’s easy to see my grandfather got has since then grown anwas always quick to respond to all of rizona andShe serving bad in was the pathTAM for me because I feltEUGENE KHUTORYANSKIYin mind. I’d w JIMENEZ CHRIS JAKE TASHARSKI , the vast impressive majority CARMEN questions and SCHUMAKER never made whycareer her ERIC they love her personal, career in Maryland,my manyJACKIE BARTHEL HEATHER SPADOLA I washimthe onlyand friends a to family so much joy helping everyone make theirsick, real estate onsists of repeat clicompassionate approach. and built a reputation as a Realtorme feel silly for asking anything.

Ekaterina (Kate) Mikhaylova worked for care of the a testament to her high level of Her infectious smile and bubbly personality is just back to him theour future.” decisions and becoming a part of their lives.”

Today Jake Tasharski has built a thriving real new directions.

We’re always hereinfor hs, someone, I make sellers receive state-of-the-art market“We have really good opportunity to be support, or our community that they live andone with a schedule That u who getsa results in aanbonus efficient munication skills. to her knowledge and professionalism.

85 86 89 90 over twenty years in corporate finance atof NY, n amazing experiing such as drone ®video, professional he works Homes R US Realty withthey two need us withoutfinancially estate business on the philosophy of proclients when being able to give back to theCarmen people we see on take part in.”with Chris finds it important to bring as much as value is an excellent REALTOR and I would use manner and who genuinely cares about her clients. flexible to without ness Spadola explains, photography, listing websites, the and Worldassociate When Eugene isn’tthe worki brokersshe and many other successful agents. enough Bank before to real the a daily basis,” says Barthel, lead viding every client with bespoke service pushy he come back to me Jackie her again.

I recommend her to This anyone looking to sell as possible to the clients she worksturned with. She goes salespeople. We understand that herreasons careerpeople in real social media. allows Heather to active by going to the gym Serving Staten Island, a growing portion of his business vide quality service to them,” she or purchase a that home.” give him the care as he REALTOR® with Jackie B Realty Group Jackie and her team are active community estate.

“I reached a career mid-point where centers education and empowerment. process is unique for every client, so we ded, after having maximize the sale price in the shortest With 28 years in the business, Chris has the experience above and beyond the call of duty to help overcome ypositions number one Helping myGroup Choice, amount boardwalk. “I also like of referrals, a testament toanhisadvosuperior service dealing of time. out ofpriority.

Realty ONE describ“We’ve really become Ten years ago, Jake his realmembers. estate ask of needed, questions the to serve their I obstacle wanted aconsists change,” Kate says.

Passionate For Kate, s anythe that comes up, and works around thea lothe and know-how necessary to tackle any challenge that sobetter I took s understand the process, from the Carmen is currently the President Electstarted for and friends, cookingGettin and ba dential ing contractors andfor thorough communication. her favorite part of her job.

“I always say cate things that happen here,” she says. ® journey by focusing on high-end rentals, specific needs and goals.

For us, it is less to until the day that we either hand Kingman Golden Valley Association of REALTORS . about renovation and remodeling, Kate had comes nat clock to navigate the nitty gritty details of each real estate can throw at her.

She is a committed problem pursue a career in After the transaction, clients leave care of him for a year in rea that we live, work, and play in the commuThe Jackie B Realty Group sponsors sporthelp the sellers load up the last of During her free time, she enjoys spending quality though his passion thetime industry began transactional and more about exploring and Heather has drawn with laser focus who is attentive glowing to reviews aboutfor their transaction.

Her listings look pristine, as she offers solver her clients fallen in love withhonesty real estate long before do weekly But much of Eugene’s tim my that sets he says. “And I he grandchildren.

She lovessaid, her coffee, nities that we important serve. Wetime use with our her platform toOne age. ing“It’s events and When activities like me the apart,” local Royal . “Imoving knew Ivan. hadIt’s thereally together. recently aand half. he passed, needed to go back toworking Itomad an early “When“Heather I was a and teenager, embracing each client’s unique dynamic.”

3D video tours professional photography toI motivation and thorough comes to at meeting their needs. knowtoIbe am there for them when every itand she enjoys her plants and flowers. she turned it into a successful career.

With love gat future and with am always punctual.

I always have the to order successis a wonderful agent.

She is extremely help those around us, and we gain by giving.

Ambassador Program, and they promote Whether she’s assisting first time in dealing with I professional, toured over 100 homes bring out my the mom fullfull potential inand each home.

Chris is well-versed new construction work time, my dadIChris suggested into to theoneclients, w he hopes dayjust have had a love for real hardworking, and easy work on any given and try to be consistent awith degree in finance and aneighborhoods professional wh HEATHER SPADOLA JACKIE BARTHEL JAKE KATEgetting MIKHAYLOVA We’re not the big-pressure salespeople.

ForplansLISA events happening inTASHARSKI theproject, where HORAN HALL heat their 1st home, or negotiating the Looking ahead, Carmen to focus on helping communication to luxury get in contact with.

She always considers herself an LOGAN advocate for I’m her buyers and and offers service in the competitive waterfront before she found the one,” Jake says, “and With their focus on relationships, Jake and broker’s license.

He’ll as much as possible. not afraid to make the first background in complex financial negotiaket every her lisd really desireexcel toanswered help.” their clients live.

Starting year, they ralresidential side of thelast market.” estment, allit’s clients can coming expect tofrom her aagents in theirmy business.

Currently, she says.us, Her hunch calls and texts, sellers, noshe mat- my knows intimately the details of real estate market, but that’s not all!

From short sales to creative that experience kick-started love for his team make sure to stay in touch with ® assist more people in their step, whether it’s prospecting or searching for that ideal , support and advice from Carmen. is the Branch Manager of Realty ONE Group Combining her servlove ofterhelping with During any businesses free is staying involved ouisiana’s in listing aandproperty, shetime, Lisa beschool an on-the-fly REALTOR CRMher “I’m up front.

IWhen always have clients’ datalied local to provide high as truly flourished as an agent how big others or small thesales. question/concern was.

She tionmy deal-brokering, Kate is perfectly dispos at this isIsland, onefinancing of the largest purchases Mountain Desert -everything Kingman office.

“My goal forgot negotiation, and carries herself with poise and to investing, Chris brings to the real estate.

I became obsessed with the jourclients through hand-written notes, thoughthis favorite part about wha property for my clients.”

Everyone he works with gets 94 97 98 101 her passion for real estate, Lisa Horan has in the community through various organizaRhode and Massachusetts. fought for us as buyers in a very hard market and worked in real estate forbest thethe past withclients yard signs.

They than also base host the cityJackie oftheirhas takes pains tothem create professional pictures interests in mind,” says Logantoseniors Hall, a her manager,” Logan explains. “It poised offer far more the andwill her af ll make intable, lifetime, Carmen 2021 isvery toto mentor agents achieve enthusiasm.

After closing 31 Lakeside transactions 2020, anddream she knows how use the cutting-edge rks at RE/MAX Home Team in had us the first house that weand puthelp an associated offer on!

In this financial investment of ahe’ pe theexperience same amazing support, noin matter the price reinforced point. ney and rewards with home buying.

I love ful gifts, and appreciation parties.

To market their found her career as an agent in South tions.

She supports Animal Rescue The with his grandfather Eric’s If sixteen years.

“We bought and sold Women in Business Vendor and Craft Fair top agent working out Arizona.

“They connect to our local MLS to where you can med nts as muchof as possible so business they can market, that ONE extra transaction.”

Wherever herof path array that capture its most unique features, and average real estate agent. social a growing portion of her that is so hard to do.

She was always on top of that process is extremely she hopes to continue to grow her business well into For his sellers, he takes the time to advise the best technology real estate has to offer for communication Carolina and New Jersey.

She got her start as Office Manager of 3 build realty offices in SC. architecture and design, and I believe our homes are an listings, Jake and his team leverage the technological numerous times, and we wanted to bring a superior cussions.

“In the end, it’s not about me, leads, she’s no doubt going to enjoy every minute each year.

“We had this idea to help up their business natural disposition.

“I love helping people,” explains.

“I lov s.storic Heather credits her quick growth of any paperwork orwill thingssometimes that we needed to havejob remember how I did a even great them. build searches and he request showings. to do for videography ifoffer Michael M her It’s clients listing price and addresses any questions or concerns the future and to continue the out highest quality ofthrough and marketing. takes pride in being adaptable after working asthose aShe receptionist atabout,” abuyers real estate “We are running a word fundraiser where we ask So superior I really listen toand their WANTS of it.care “This is so fulfilling, it’s ahesitate blessing integral part ofDon’t ourto lifestyle. helping my tools available Compass, prioritizing stunning tomer service to we she says.

“Real by empowering them to getclients the and make connecher service dedication. done both ascareer and sellers. toto useI love I also have a strong social media presence a cutting-edge tool we’re working on, and Vermilion the situation calls for it.

She then markets ive them my undivided attention.” helpconditions people withagent.” real estate needsan and build so caree “I like to see my happy. very toestate morn that his clients have, prior toArea. going on theIt’s market.

Herewarding brokerage.

“Ilike justmarket what agents to bring in dog orclients cat food and other In her second full year inexplains. business, Kate has already mediavideos, pages, spreading real estate service in the Chesapeake Bay rapidly changing and possessing Heather as your estate sounded a started great fitwatching for me,their and Ithe was really tions with other women,” Jackie These women along their journey to grow and live better.

That’s what visuals.

With professional photography, and 3D resses, “I owe much of mycomfortsuccess many relationships way.” across that along encompasses how proficient Isupplies, am asgoes we’re close to makingattract a full competitive launchinvesting. on it.”offer“ Nationally the listing all of the social media to-Earth, so feel then above and beyond for marketing, advertising allpeople the agents doing, eventually I then we donate it to the rescue.” extensive knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay region built a thriving business based on the ethos of quality interested in it, sowere I decided toand get my license.” help provide an annual scholarship to a high school gradable tofrom see his themwalk-throughs, get what they want andreceives beginbroad livingvisibility takes keeps me going.”

Jake finds greatbe fulfillment every client ®she’s giving and I become friends many When Heather isn’t working, back to free time, REALTOR , asand a philanthropic member earned mywith license and began cold acalling for Lisathe also gives back to homeless property on social media andshelters, real estate websites.

In her Chris loves boating and biking in the lywemusic, platforms, her MLS, andhow her sphere, as relaying information promptly investment uate from the area who plans to major in business.

Shevery over quantity.

“My goal is to give every client high Forwhile more consistently information Jimenez, career.

“I events valueand the people and they’ve enriched across social media and other digital platforms.

Their work together,” she explains.about the Carmen community through charities.

She their best lives.

Aher home isand the biggest purchase mostmile of for his childr a928-727-3356 topheads producer.”

This led toofhermy being soup kitchens, SC Ovarian Cancer Society, offers received, he presents them to the sellers When he isn’t going the extra community, and how good of aOnce dad summer and spending time with family two clearly to her her clients. ease beating well asgiven sending out direct mailer postcall or emailsoon carmensells928@gmail.com Jackie upclients, a small comprised ofand herself, her andquality her team also outare aand monthly newspaper featuransaction, she guides isteam a member of the Killingly Business 18,” 18 Michaf my life meAssociation a sense of purpose insend helping strategy has proven results: last year, theyfinds completed service,” Kate says.

“I’m not in this to have huge Kate fulfillment hired as his assistant, where she soaked up Toys for Tots, and is a member of the Brick and explains which one he would choose and why. dogs.

She is very active in her community, working clients or working as a mentor for his team I am.

I really try to be more than just a understand every aspect of what is and helps plan various events throughout the year them will make, and it can be such a difficult process. husband, Anthony, and Shelbie, Director of Client ing local small businesses to over seven hundred families.

LINDSEY REED their LISA HORAN LOGAN HALL MICHAEL MILLER a, where cards to residents in the home’s local serving others,”she’s Jake says. volume. million in across thirty-five transactions. able to I Meanwhile, would be the best agent than have the from the variety realflip es asfirst-time much information as shethem. could.

It Together, wasn’t Chamber of rather Commerce. er they’re aOne home buyer with During any free time, ® heAdopt-A-Bear, listens intently to sales his buyer’s needs andloves withtheorganizations such as Toys of All Chris’s biggest assets as an agent is Agent her offor agents,for Logan investing his time good REALTOR .” enjoying Relations. three are fully licensed. they serCopyright Magazine dstor, stuff a intently neighborhood.

People are looking to their realtor guidance.” she is listens to herwas cli- confident companyenough of familyto and friends orTop cultivating her pholittle incom most transactions.”

A solo Realtor at Long & Foster Kate says.

“This job is long before she step doesn’t stop searching until that perfect home is found.

Harvest for the Hungry, others.

If with you orand dedication toachieve her clients’ needs.

Thehobbies. first thing Tots, vice Anoka Sherburne County, Hennepin County, Outside of work, though she’sand often working, Jackie Sasha Alexander Gurevich was in Another benefit AtheraCounty, young age, Sam Boatman was quick tohas respond.

IHabitat try to v and resources back into his community. can tography and gardening gcantodetermine move Now a Team Leader with Compass in Chicago, Illinois, Committed to giving back, Jake supported outhow on she own.

During her first year, she was awarded As Lisa looks ahead, she is eager to see where her path After the transaction, Eugene stays in touch, sending Ever since t Bethesda Gateway Realty, Kate serves the Washington love how every transact 102 105 106part in several philanthropic someone you know interested in the best real estate she does mapping with a out new client isthey try andmiddle pinpoint what Ramsey County.

However, don’t restrict themloves to spend timeiswith sons.

“They keep me buyers,and this includes He and takes in the top of Century 21’s the of a1% successful career asher a three Sasha isthe his stro obsessed with homes.

He grew up make people feel comfortable with Rookie of the Year afterLooking selling 33Ranking houses.

“That was six in New Jersey will lead.

She just joined aand new brokerage, Jake manages a small group of dedicated professionals. for Humanity, served as Chair on the Young search of All of Lindsey’s free time is spent with out holiday and birthday cards and checks in every ermining a price point.

In this curahead, Heather has her sights set on continflipping DC area, along with Maryland Northern Virginia. complicated, and I love selves.

“We do they a lot are of referral and soin that busy!” she says,loves laughing.

Her sons are involved inOne, sevservice Maryland haslooking to offer, look nopurchase further than specifically lookingbusiness, to accomplish thebrings longworldwide, Those toorganizations. property Boston, PCH50, is anin organization for busireal estate agents bringing years ago, it’sare grown every year since, now I’m averRuggeri Realty in NJ while still tomaintaining top agent With afor newly hired Buyer’s Agent, along with a comProfessionals Network Board through the she ensures theirand offers uous growth.

She dedicated to“I real estate and being couple of months catch up.taking with family involved the title me.”

Sam’s forthrightness isa aChicago quality yrket, Reed is family. have two sweet girls, six and business analyst with a Logan large computer “I’m hardwork us run. everywhere,” Jackie says.

“We’ll goisin anywhere.” eral school activities, and Jackie enjoys part in nothing Chris Schumaker! moved to Charleston, Michael says, “I She then makes herself available her clients Robyn Booth began her real dream home.

There’s more fulfilling than ness leaders under the age ofa fifty which seeks totoraise amitment personal touch to allforstatus of his transactions.

“That’s itive. “In 2021, are getting to help buyers sellers connect years agingsellers 60 homes a year.”available It’s Lisa’s focus onand relationships at AgentOwned realty inNewton Charleston SC, andof she Brookline, or couldn’t ask for better guide. to high-caliber customer service, Team JT is Association Realtors.

While it is rare for Jake not to see. price eleven, somywhen I’m not though working I just ® that.

They alsoan love to travel, particularly to the family’s industry and construction, and found that everyone wants in a Realtor, and software company when he decided he comes to selling Even Kate is not a veteran realtor yet, the majority Dedicated to the comm estate career as assistant seeing a first time home buyer reach the closing table for Realtors to do the work for me an ove askingthat on their house to come.

“I love working with clients, it is so sets her apart in the field, with clients continually can’t waitarray to help more clients.

“I’m at the beach down money to support Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Last the key to my success.

I’m friendly, I stay relevant, Buyers and sellers love to spread the word about his well-poised to serve a diverse of clients, from be working, when he does take time for himself, he Eric grew up in the suburbs, and has lived in the city Nearly all business comes from repeat and cabin up north. ple of days of going onoftheJackie’s market, rewarding to at see (410) them happy athang the end of it all, it’s want to with them and my husband.

Contact Chris 739 7596, email chrisschumaker1@gmail.com, for a Milwaukee brokerage, with tears in their eyes, so grateful they made it.

Those of her business is already stemming from repeat clients abroad, Kate is an active that his familiarity with the process it has made him a popular option in spreading the word about her work. the shore and excited to help New Jersey with all their license so I could do it myself.”

Now For about Eui wanted to go inatfirst-time a front different direction with proactive, as work.

One recently said, “Closed on atogether house year, they and raised overmore $500,000. and Ilevel keep of mind,” Logan says.

He I’ve been able to have successShe with credits a great her feeling to know Irenters, can help them achieve their luxury to buyers, tomore sellers, and loves to berallied in nature, bike,just travel, and host friends foropp referral clients. high ofmyself service or visit homesnap.com/Christine-Schumaker for information whole life,” Lindsey I’m also very involved with fundraising efforts for now for many years.

“I know Boston very well.

Also, real estate needs.” where she had the opportunity are the moments that drive me each day.” please call 9 and referrals, which is a testament to the care and attenit comes to relief efforts Realtor®, Michael has built on his back offers accepted.”

Meanwhile, her real estate dreams.” two months after started search, toClients involved with buying and selling his community. appreciate hiswa also takes part all in thanks West Valley Mavericks, a young credits his “I integrity and personable with the more.

Jake has been recognized as a attitude Top Producer by we He game orour craft nights. life. was good money, but upemail a sign and with their loyalty. genuinely care about and getmaking “I think my success isschool justhis being authentic, I’m the Lafayette andkeySt.to“We their and have been the PTO president for the eugenek.rea to learn the industry from the Eugene.

He was very responsive and helpful with all tion Kate shows to each of her clients.

“I’m developing ters.

“From my former toraised helpof other homebuyers and Iofcomes think Iyears have understanding what people are men’s group who $1.2 million80% for charities fact that over 80% of his business repeat really withmy our clientsand onthat a personal Jackie the Chicago Association of Realtors threefrom inaagood homes, coupled with his natural directness –isover he receives ofinvestor his li veryclose real with people tolevel,” help me build Itends was also spending most my time in show up.”

Befor For more information about Heather Spadola, a Realtor here for 13 last five years. ground up.

There, she took an Outside her career, Robyn tremendously active in my SAM business to one be very personal,” Kate says. had the world,” says. estate goals. explains.

“We arefriendships constantly checking to see how life by Expertise.com focused on kids and Other organizations near and referral clients. row,in and was named as ofatthedifferent Jake isMagazine excited about the afuture and what itKate holds. looking for stages ofof“Iveterans. their lives, whether SASHA ALEXANDER ROBYN BOOTH BOATMAN Copyright Top Agent solid, lasting with them,” she says.

After affinity the lifestyle, led him to business through referrals from satisse call 860-786-8080 orfor email homes@heatherspadola.com mes and neighborhoods interestscreen,” in realty, in which particular her community.

OnI’m top providing regular donations front of a computer he explains. did a lot of door is going, when they have babies, get married, or any other busy year, means I’m doing what supposed causes across the globe.

GUREVICH to Logan’s heart include the Make a Wish Foundation, top twenty Realtors® in Chicago in 2020.

“I love my team dynamic and plan to keep it tightCo moving from Charleston, SC back to her home state of they‘re new to the city and need easiest commute, want a careerAsin for realthe estate later onthe clients, an especially impressive for the ways indoing.” which itarea, could 4fied Heroes, athe non-profit organization that future of business, Lindsey wants to lifeNew events.”

“I’ve always working with peohouses inArmy, the ne tometropolitan be and family.

With twin ki the Youth Connection, the Salvation Based of her the Phoenix Loganto Running Jersey, Lisa decided to maintain her out presence inenjoyed knit.Homeless Moving forward, I of willthis focus on bringing In January year, Michael started allow herand to attentive, empower those fallen first responders, she also works closely Copyright Top Agent Magazine continue towere grow while maintaining theare excellent or looking for and a good neighborhood raise their in his life.

After tospent school for number considering this is just hislisC southern state.

“Some of mygoing clients worried when Ambitious, Jake and hissupports more awareness to sustainability and green building St. Mary’s Foodbank. has the past eighteen years servicing Maricopa says, “I’m blessed MVM TeamtoatKate Realty One Group ple and Idetail-oriented, wanted something that would homes he was Each month, Jackie and her team send an item of value in her community.

Two years with the MPD Canine Foundation to host fundraising tate when her husband level of customer service people rave about.

“I’m I left, but I told them will fly back toan help them, and I Arizona.

Business andIworking at appraisal fourth year in the industry. team prioritize client relationships.

Around 80%her ofclients practices, helping to educate buyers as they navigate kids, or are empty nesters pursuing a new adventure County and northern He’ll go wherever his Kate is proud to offer not only excellent counteam K9 serve allBut of reaches Charleston, includi give me more tomy doand that.” out to p to had their past clients.

These items are always personalized. after attaining her real estate license, however, she deevents forprior the advancing Milwaukee Unit. she is justthat as we do,” she says.

“I also have aissue partner who helps out ifopportunity I from hat she the perfect always looking for new ways to any improve clients’ Jake’s business stems repeat clients referrals, a home, rapidly industry.

It to is do important No portion of this may be reproduced in manner whatsoever without consent of the publisher.

Logan’s absolute favorite things outside of work clients want to be within the state.

If it’s outside of seling on buying and selling a but also to provide For the future, Kate pl company for some time, Sam got now that the kids are gone.

I even represent some areas such as Johns Island, James Islan This might include tips on home to repairs, local sports can’t get a flight, and we do Zoom calls so they know I’m cided elevate her work to the next level and launch devoted to her professional sphere, hosting a popular phone, email and I’m definitelyTop a social experience, and keep earning their referrals.

Beyond apublished testament to his personable andtaken conscientious keep the boutique style and feel of the business, solocal we clien is spend time with his family and work with his his expertise, he’ll make sure they’re care of by Agent Magazine is by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy her financial expertise, as well as her extensive knowlintention, keeping ® schedules, or a seasonal newsletter with things to do.

Summerville.

Over 90% of Michael’s b licensed a Realtor inabout 2017 andbuilding hasrest always there for as them.”

At her the same time, she’s international clients who want topersonal purchase investment . When she’s not own team—and the iswork history. networking meetup local Realtors Duethatfor to his longtime familiarity withTo people.

I’m also very that, it’s enjoying the and having fun approach.

“We build relationships,” Jake says.

“We’re can provide connection tothe every client, His brother, asomeone Realtor for over twenty forms.

He also pu church, where he currently serves as president. referring them to in the local market. edge about home renovation.

“For half of my clients, I business.

Dedicated to They stop over with a little customized treat or to her often network in the Ocean and Monmouth County region of published materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions expressed or facts supplied by its repeat and referral clients, an impressiv withasupporting clients orhomes giving back, shetheir canand be found setting been working hard to relationships pushtohis career emah properties.”

With degree in marketing and sales from here listen and tothe advocate for ourworked people as their them through future journeys and in general his background ng people what building with people I also meet.

I getto aas lot “My family and faith come first,” he says.

He has host community client get together. of athrough New Jersey.

No matter who she is serving or where, years, had been encouraging him give real estate a to the nearly two thousand agen have their general contractor,” Kate says. to pursue certifications, authors.

To subscribe orlives change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com.

Published inher the U.S. the and confidence he and his team onwhatever her latest adventure with son.

Today, Robyn leads thetheir Robyn Booth Group with the into limelight through combichange and growing families takeCollege, them inoff and life has in trust store.” ecision they will make. joy from this work!” buyers andthe sellers canofexpect thorough guidance and three children—ages seven, five, andwell two—and Logan When ita comes toSasha marketing his listings, Logan leaves in business and appraisal, Sam a s Babson fifteen years ofdon’t experience, Eric “I supervise the remodeling work so my clients design.

“I want toisgain try.

In 2016 finally took the leap, and is now a in his area, as as marketin Badger Realty Team, where she assists clients throughFor more about Jackie Barthel and the Jackie B Realty Group, support, with no questions left customer unanswered.

“I have my “We really try of hard to build that authentic lifelong nation excellent service We“ loves to hang out with them.

“They and my wife are no stone unturned.

He loves hosting open houses and natural at negotiating contracts.

He have toas do anything.

MyRobyn clients get strong more value for their myInis clients,” says. brings substantial negotiating skills bear on hisKate has plans for theto future. the months out thelicensed Milwaukee Metro Area, as well Madison andjackie@jackiebrealtygroup.com, call 612-382-6424, email “The biggest thing making clients ha agent with eXp Realty, representing clients online platform, which netwo teacher’s license, I enjoy teaching both my clients and relationship from asoplace ofwork giving back,” Jackie says, For more information about Jakemy Tasharski, call 312-646-0284, everything,” he says. isethic. the Open House King.

Hemoney uses social media to drum and a tenacious working with me, because in addition to taking for as long as I can.”

JackieBRealtyGroup.com or visit is an expert on market trends both ahead, she will be looking to open a third office, which the surrounding counties.

Offering a boutique experience clients’ behalf.

“I was ratedagents. as one He of the top pictur agents other agents.

I love being a go-to person whenever any-email jake.tasharski@compass.com that be to the client, theirup family, a cause they or visit jaketasharski.com all over the Brooklyn including Beach, thousand posts as a “whether kind spirit who interest in his properties.area, “Before our marketBrighton was would expandnationally her team even further intoall thein counties at an affordable rate, she has the compassion, experience, one has questions.” and locally the Twin com this year, and of my clients hav Looking to Mikhaylova, the of future, Logan excited continue so insane, I’d also do Bensonhurst, fliers and postcards,” l and patient.

It’s Magazine no Sheepshead Bay, Midwood, Madison, his homes to all oftothe social Top Agent 3 her To find outLogan more about Kate youitiscan contact by pm surrounding Milwaukee.

Through all, though, she and attention to detail needed to serve any buyer or seller.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine because I find them exactly what they A the bigrate reason for Sam’s success is by the time those hit someone’s growing Cities, and relationships he uses this and nurturing withknowledge his clients. w says.

“But, right now, ent andAfter referral is transaction clients leave glowing Homecrest, Bayridge, Kensington matter of course. will continue servingthem with in the special mix ofIfintegrity “I believe in treatingreviews mySunset clients as ifPark, they are my friends or by email at KateMi@LNF.com orany Ekaterina.Mikhaylova@long direction. they don’t want to reinvent theofwheel, everysay nowthey mailbox,and the“Lisa house contract or even sold!

It’s “You his on One consistent personalized customer to deftly navigate the intricacies real but estate about their time together. recently wasis under me and effort onemphasis every and open communication that has anchored her repu-when and family,” said, she says.

“After all, they don’t handle real

KATE MIKHAYLOVA

LINDSEY REED

MICH

ALEXANDER GUREVICH SAMSASHA BOATMAN

ROBYN BOOTH

www.

www.

www.

www.

CONTENTS 6) 4 WAYS MENTORING UP-AND-COMING EMPLOYEES MAKES YOU A BETTER AGENT 11) 4 EASY WAYS TO REDECORATE YOUR OFFICE THAT WILL BOOST MORALE & IMPRESS CLIENTS 15) 3 MENTAL TRICKS THAT WILL TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL 19) 3 MIND-BENDING PHILOSOPHIES TO EXPAND YOUR PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVE 23) 3 SUREFIRE METHODS THAT MAKE FOR A PRODUCTIVE MEETING 27) TURNING YOUR PROFESSION INTO A PASSION 31) 3 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR WORKSPACE WORK FOR YOU

4

38) WHAT THE FIRST THING YOU DO AFTER WORK SAYS ABOUT YOU

75) 5 MORNING HABITS TO MAKE YOUR DAY SUPER PRODUCTIVE

42) 5 FRESH NEW APPROACHES TO CONTENT MARKETING

79) 5 SIMPLE MINDSET SHIFTS THAT WILL HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS

48) 5 TIPS TO MAKE NEW HIRES A LONGLASTING SUCCESS 54) 5 TIPS TO GET NEW CLIENTS 60) 4 QUALITIES OF EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEES 64) 4 REASONS WHY MULTITASKING CAN ACTUALLY DERAIL YOUR DAY 68) 4 WAYS TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST PROCRASTINATION 72) 5 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO ACHIEVE YOUR BIGGEST GOALS

83) 5 SOCIAL MEDIA MISTAKES REAL ESTATE AGENTS MUST AVOID 87) THINKING OF LISTING? NINE WAYS TO GET READY 91) 6 HABITS OF HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE AGENTS 95) 6 WAYS TO GET YOUR CLIENT TO TRUST YOU 99) 7 SIMPLE TIPS THAT ARE PROVEN TO HELP YOU STAY AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION 103) 8 THINGS SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE NEVER DO

Top Agent Magazine

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com http://www.topagentmagazine.com

Top Agent Magazine

5

4 Ways Mentoring Up-and-Coming Employees Makes You a Better Agent In the world of real estate, there are always new agents joining the ranks. Even if you’ve been practicing for just a few short years, you’ve likely learned your fair share of lesson along the way. As an agent, much of your working philosophy is derived from first-hand experience and your work on the ground. This means that new agents are less prepared for the inevitable curveballs of the industry. That’s where you come in.

While mentorship is often pitched as a relationship that solely benefits the mentee, there is actually plenty to be gained from becoming a mentor. After all, personal growth goes hand-in-hand with professional growth, and becoming a mentor asks agents to thought6

fully explore and demonstrate their own ideologies, practices, and rationale. With that in mind, take a look at some of the benefits of mentorship below, and you’ll get a sense of why counseling new agents can be a boon to your own business.

Teaching lessons to others reinforces your own professional values.

Showing the ropes to young agents is a great way to brush-up on your foundational skills.

Verbalizing and demonstrating processes, or walking through the rationale behind negotiation tactics—all cause mentors to think through their established practices and outline in detail why they’ve chosen this route over an

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

alternative. This helps older agents fine-tune their routines, while getting back in touch with the critical thinking that went into constructing those habits.

Mentorships allows you to see the big picture.

surely sharpen your ability as the head of a team. What’s more, you’ll be building skills of empathy, understanding, teaching, and constructive criticism. Working on those skills will better your practice and your ability to lead in your office.

After a lengthy industry tenure, it’s not uncommon for battle-worn agents to lose some steam and begin to burn out. By devoting some time to mentoring up-and-coming agents, you’ll get back in touch with your early days, remembering the excitement, the trials, and the hard lessons gleaned. Spending time with the next generation of real estate professionals can reinvigorate your practice, as seeing the business from the eyes of an eager amateur can inject energy into your working life.

You’ll benefit from seeing things from a new perspective.

Just as working with young agents can help you remember your career’s big picture, you may also benefit from working alongside someone with a new perspective. Young agents bring a different set of skills and awareness to their work, and established agents can benefit from a fresh take. If technology isn’t your strong suit, or you’re interested in tapping the Millennial homebuyer market, working with a younger agent is an excellent way to see through fresh eyes.

Mentoring young agents makes you a better leader.

As a mentor, you’ll often direct the flow of your professional relationship—figuring out which issues to tackle, making an agenda, and imparting lessons in a clear way. These are all characteristics of a leader, and acting in a position of authority as mentor can Top Agent Magazine

While some may balk at the time commitment or energy required to take on a mentee or two, you might consider it an act of ongoing education or professional development. While your mentee will undoubtedly benefit from access to your expertise, there’s certainly much to be gained from taking the time to cultivate tomorrow’s real estate leaders.

Top Agent Magazine

7

BRANDON GREENPLATE

Brandon Greenplate’s relocation to South Carolina’s Lowcountry was an exciting choice for his real estate career after graduating from Clemson University. At the time, he didn’t know what the future would hold, but with his love for personal relationships, serving others, and the fast-paced resort real estate industry, he quickly hit the ground running.

“Something deep down told me it was the right choice, and I committed 100% to being the best I could be,” says the former Pennsylvania native.

and it’s so rewarding to be able to introduce my clients to the local lifestyle and everything that goes along with island living.”

Brandon understands the importance of successful marketing, and goes above and beyond to stand out from the crowd. “I utilize

Brandon is proud to be affiliated with HiltonHead Properties Realty, a boutique real estate firm located on Hilton Head Island. His non-native status has actually worked in his favor. “I often know exactly what many of my clients who are relocating here are going through, because I went through it myself,” he says. “I fell in love with Hilton Head Island, 8

Copyright Top Agent Magazine

everything at my disposal, from high level google advertisements, to 3D virtual tours, in order to get my sellers top dollar for their properties,” he says. “I’m always on the lookout for ways to improve my process and stay ahead of where the market is going.”

With $7,000,000 in sales for 2020 (his first full year in the industry), Brandon has already surpassed that number in 2021 with first quarter sales reaching $9,000,000.

While he is humbled and pleased about the success, he continues to center his efforts on building strong, personal bonds. “I love helping people. I really get a sense of fulfillment when I meet someone and help them achieve their goals. I try never to treat the work as a one-time transaction. I want to build long-term relationships.”

Outside of work, Brandon finds time for community involvement. He is a member of the local Chamber of Commerce, and Hilton Head / Bluffton Leadership Program. In his spare time he loves to boat, fish, surf and surround himself with friends. “I’m an adventurous person, so I love being outdoors exploring and meeting new people.”

Brandon looks forward to expanding his business and growing his client network.

“My short-term goal is to close $30,000,000 in sales volume within a year,” he says.

“Long-term, my goal is to start a brokerage firm of my own, specializing in luxury residential sales and development.” Until then, he is available for all of your Hilton Head Island real estate needs, and is doing whatever it takes to serve his clients and community with passion and integrity.

Top Agent Magazine

To learn more about Brandon Greenplate email Brandon@BrandonGreenplate.com.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 9

Jonny Sundstrom is proud to congratulate

BRANDON GREENPLATE

on being featured for the State of South Carolina in Top Agent Magazine!

jonny@beaufortlending.com Jonny Sundstrom | 10

NMLS 1985546 Top Agent Magazine

4 Easy Ways to Redecorate Your Office that Will Boost Morale & Impress Clients Your office is a battle-station of sorts. It’s where you field business, launch your communications, and make the magic of your enterprise happen on a daily basis. While you’ll certainly need to have all the functional elements of an office in order to get your work done—desk, chair, internet—have you really considered the physical environment you’ve cultivated in the process? Think of it this way: working all day in a windowless, poorly lit room Top Agent Magazine

wouldn’t exactly inspire productivity or morale, would it?

The fact is humans take all sorts of social, behavioral, and emotional cues from our environments.

And as a real estate professional, you likely already understand the power of the visual and the benefits of making a good impression. With all that in mind, how can you redecorate or retool your

Top Agent Magazine ®

11

office space in a way that will boost your mood, productivity, and client relationships? For inspiration, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you consider the ambiance and environment in which you conduct business.

1. A little goes a long way Redecorating your office space doesn’t have to break the bank. Style and décor are often about tiny details adding up to make an overall impression. For instance, paint color, plant life, and lighting are all straightforward ways to rejuvenate a room without spending a fortune. Have dark, drab walls? Consider springing for a lighter, fresher color that will breathe new life into your space. Have bare window sills or empty corners?

Buying and potting a few low-maintenance plants like ferns or succulents can add freshness and pops of color to a sparse room. Rely on fluorescent lighting? Consider sprucing up your space with a few well-chosen floor and table lamps that add accents of taste while warming up the tone in your office. A few intuitively placed items can inspire renewed energy.

2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle One way to make a big change in your office environment without spending a penny is to declutter and reorder. Let’s say you have rows upon rows of crowded, bulky filing cabinets. Try digitizing your records and cut the clutter, opening up square footage in the process. Maybe your desk has faced the same wall for years. Have you considered rearranging your existing furniture and décor? Just by reorganizing the flow of your workspace, you can give your office the cheapest face-lift possible.

You can also make work areas flow more intuitively, based on the processes and collaboration you’ve adapted to over time.

12

3. Think like a client Imagine you’re walking into the office for the first time. As a client, what details would stick out? What red flags would come to mind? While you’re used to working in the same space every day, clients are coming into your office with no set expectations. With that in mind, complete a walkthrough of your office area to address eye sores, clutter, and whatever feels unprofessional or amateur. Half the battle of redecorating your space is finding opportunities and seeing things anew, instead of being content with the status quo.

4. Build out your brand Redecorating your space is about aesthetics, but it’s also about creating a unifying setting for your professional brand. If you’re catering to luxury clientele, it makes sense that your office space should appear elegant, high-end, and sophisticated.

If you’re selling second homes out in the country, perhaps a more rugged but well-curated ambiance would set the right tone for your services. Maybe you’re courting the Millennial market or touting your tech-forward approach to real estate. In that case, a modern, sleek, progressive layout would speak to your company’s values and culture.

Whatever the case may be, think of your office environment as an extension of your brand that communicates with clients, motivates your team, and sets the tone for your day-to-day operations.

Even if decorating isn’t exactly in your wheelhouse, there are plenty of simple and philosophical shifts you can make to your space that will maximize your presence and productivity. What’s more, real estate is a business built on relationships—so it doesn’t hurt to create an office where clients are comfortable and confident in the environment you’ve built.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

FREEMAN CORBIN When Freeman Corbin was young, he spent a lot of time with his parents who were both Realtors and land developers. With this early insight into the world of business interaction, Freeman became a lifelong entrepreneur, starting several businesses over the course of his adulthood and experiencing the full gamut of successes and failures along the way. More recently, he has come full circle, getting licensed as a Realtor in Oregon in 2017 and proving himself as an elite agent right off the bat.

With the amount of business experience Freeman has, it’s a no-brainer that he carries himself with poise and knows intimately both how to interact with clients and other agents, and how to deftly negotiate transactions. His business savvy has paid dividends for him early on in his career, and his familiarity with the industry has allowed him to kickstart his business to high levels of success within the first few years. He was Rookie of the Year at Windemere his first year, and since then has maintained a spot in the Top 5% of Producers in Lane County.

The core of Freeman’s business is his clients, and he centers his philosophy around pinpointing his clients’ specific objectives and helping them reach those goals to the best of his ability. He is a business professional who enjoys finding a creative approach to solve problems for clients, and he does what he does to provide as much value for them as possible. “Clients like working me because I’m straightforward with them,” Freeman says.

“I have a high bar for what I consider to be ethical when working with a client, and I give each client detailed, personal treatment.” He gives each client a personalized, customized approach after getting to know them, on top of his standard process. Freeman’s clients love the way he carefully guides them toward making the decisions that are right for them.

Freeman’s versatility as a Realtor is second to none – along with holding a deep understanding of finance and interpersonal work relationships, Freeman is intimately familiar with construction, having built his own home Top Agent Magazine

from the ground up. He regularly works with a wide variety of clients, deals, and circumstances, and has found success in navigating them. Freeman has found a lot of joy in his new career, especially in the way that he has been able to interact with people in his community and offer them genuine aid. “I really love helping people achieve their goals,” Freeman. “I feel that people have objectives, things they really want, and I find a lot of fulfillment in seeing people accomplish those. I’ve found it very rewarding to become so much closer to my community.”

In his free time, Freeman enjoys spending time in the natural beauty of the Northwest outdoors with his two daughters. He has very involved with his local community – he joined the RAIN program as mentor for people looking to get their start-ups off the ground, and he did a series of in-depth interviews with local businesses to help them gain exposure, particularly valuable during the difficult times of COVID. For the future, Freeman wants to focus on growing his business and his group in the years to come. If you’re looking for high quality real estate service in Oregon, look no further than Freeman Corbin!

Contact Freeman at (541) 517-0898, email home@freemancorbinre.com, or visit FreemanCorbinRE.com for more information www.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 13

Justin St. Clair is proud to congratulate

FREEMAN CORBIN

on being featured for the State of Oregon in Top Agent Magazine!

_

JUSTIN ST. CLAIR | Loan Officer | NMLS#1416140 541-868-1850, Ext: 1135 | 541-912-1472 cell justin.stclair@summitfunding.net summitfunding.net/jstclair www.

14

Top Agent Magazine

3 Mental Tricks That Will Take Your Business to the Next Level It’s no secret that running a successful business requires careful planning and a tireless work ethic. Beyond those obvious ideals, it also takes the right mindset in order to capitalize on professional opportunity. In the world of real estate and mortgage lending, mental fortitude is a major component to reaching the next Top Agent Magazine

level and achieving longevity in a sector that requires so much self-discipline. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a few key mental tricks you can employ to reinvigorate your working philosophy. Incorporate these techniques into your daily mindfulness routine and your business will surely benefit.

Top Agent Magazine ®

15

1

Visualization helps you work efficiently and keep your cool.

This may sound like one of the oldest tricks in the book, but there’s a reason why Olympic athletes and those serving in first-responder positions use visualization as a time-honored mental technique. Not only does visualizing your daily tasks help you organize your mind, but it amps up your ability to focus on what’s important. Visualization also helps reduce stress in the moment, since you’ve already created a mental expectation of the task ahead. Whether you’re preparing for a negotiation or a pitch to new a client—visualization primes your brain and affords you an extra sense of control as you tackle your day.

2

Distill concepts into their simplest terms for ultimate understanding.

As an agent or loan officer, you’re likely juggling numerous clients and commitments on any given day. That’s why it helps to distill your responsibilities in clear, definitive terms. Let’s say you have a meeting set with a client to outline a marketing approach for their property. You may understand the broad strokes, but beforehand, try verbalizing the exact takeaways you’d like to impart to your client.

This may seem obvious, but one of the best ways to clarify your communication and ensure your com-

16

plete understanding of a subject is to explain it aloud in its simplest terms. This crystallizes your main point and can come in handy if you drift off-topic or need to double-down on your message.

3

Accept that mistakes will be made.

While it’s natural to fear failure, sometimes the dread of making an error can overwhelm your ability to perform. As the saying goes: don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.

If you accept in advance that set-backs will occur, challenges will come, and things won’t always go accordingly to plan—you’ll be less confounded when hurdles do arise. What matters is keeping an even keel as you sort through unexpected delays or mishaps. Accepting that mistakes will happen allows you to shift your focus towards a solution or contingency plan. In other words, don’t spend your energy trying to achieve perfection. Aim high and work hard, but be in touch with reality: upsets are bound to occur. Accept this and you’ll be ready when they do.

The path to lasting success is ongoing, and there are bound to be challenges along the way. It takes mental fortitude to make it to the top, so keep these tricks in mind as you continue to grow as a person and a professional. Seeing situations in a new light can make all the difference as you adapt, evolve, and take your business to the next level.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

HOPE ALLAIN-BOYCE While she was working a job in kitchen design, Hope Allain-Boyce decided she needed something more flexible while she was taking care of her new baby.

She got licensed as a Realtor in her home state of Maine and immediately fell in love with the job. Through building relationships with her clients and learning the ins and outs of real estate transactions, Hope has built an impressive career over the three years she’s been in the business, and she hopes to push her career even further in the years to come.

Hope puts a lot of effort into her client interaction, recognizing that the success of her business is based on the quality of the relationships she builds with her clients. As such, she tries to ensure that she is doing everything she can to benefit her clients to the best of her ability, and goes out of her way to meet their needs. “I make a point of building trusting relationships with each of my clients,” Hope says. “I like to tell them, ‘I’m your new best friend until we find you a home.’” Clients recognize Hope’s desire to help and genuine interest in their well-being – she gets a large portion of her business from her referral network, especially impressive considering she is relatively new in the industry.

While working with clients, Hope emphasizes first and foremost consistent and proper communication, delivering information promptly and succinctly while keeping herself available for texts and phone calls. She aims to establish trust with her clients from the onset, and is set on maintaining the security and satisfaction of each of her clients throughout the transaction.

“I don’t let any of my clients get left in the dark,” Hope says. “I give each of them the same respect and care, I make sure they’re taken care of, and I keep myself available throughout the day to respond to any questions they might have as soon as they arise.”

Top Agent Magazine

The persistent line of contact that Hope keeps with her clients is a feature of her service that many people look for in a Realtor, and it sets her apart a premier option in Maine.

When it comes to marketing her listings, Hope focuses on social media advertising to push her brand into the world. She also stays in contact with many of her clients past and present through her Facebook page, and has built a wide network doing so. She closed 27 transactions in 2020, and is working hard to see that number rise even further in 2021.

In her free time, Hope loves spending quality time with her husband and two daughters adventuring outside and watching them grow up. She hopes to continue expanding her business well into the future, and in the short-term hopes to be licensed as a broker and start a property management business. If you’re looking for top-notch real estate service in Maine, look no further than Hope Allain-Boyce!

You can contact Hope at (207) 431-5840 or by email at hopeallain@gmail.com

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 17

Michelle Leclerc is proud to congratulate

HOPE ALLAIN-BOYCE

on being featured for the State of Maine in Top Agent Magazine!

Michelle Leclerc | Fairway Independent Mortgage Area VP/SR Loan Officer | NMLS-MLO 196669 207-432-8667 or 360-551-1816 www.michelleleclercteam.com 18

Top Agent Magazine

3 Mind-Bending Philosophies to Expand Your Professional Perspective

Beyond the day-to-day duties that make your business tick, so much of success is derived from the principles you put in place to guide your business. The foundational tenets you subscribe to can make or break your business for the long-term; they not only influence how you complete routine Top Agent Magazine

tasks, but also impact your growth, your ability to manage a team, and what the future might hold. With all that in mind, here are three philosophies to remember as you strategize your professional life—whether you’re mapping your monthly goals or creating an overarching plan for growth.

Top Agent Magazine

19

1

Treat Your Business Like a Business

One of the perks of working in real estate is that you’re often able to create and manage your own schedule and volume, but that doesn’t mean you can skimp on the technical details of being your own boss.

No real estate professional worth his or her salt would forgo empowering tools like a business and marketing plan, or spreadsheets to track cash flow and expenses, or regular profit-and-loss statements, or fiscal year budgets and projections. Taking these measures may appear daunting at first— and completing them will certainly require discipline and a learning curve—but harnessing valuable data and information can intelligently inform your professional decisions, strategies, and long-term growth.

2

Achieve a Holistic Understanding

When schedules are busy, it sometimes feels like enough to reach the end of the week’s to-do list. But, if you’re planning on a lasting career built on year-to-year growth, it’s not enough to account for the short-term.

By creating daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly, and five-year goals, you’re outlining and quantifying your progress.

While your quarterly and yearly goals may be clear in your mind, what about five years from now? Perhaps you’d like to add to your designations, or incorporate a new team member, or add an additional branch.

No matter how you envision your profes20

sional future, the first order of business is to create a timeline. Once you have a clear deadline in mind, it’s far easier to build out the steps and calendar necessary to achieve your goals.

3 Specificity is Empowering While you may have a general sense of where you’d like to see your business go in the next few months or years, it’s hard to work toward or attain a goal that’s abstract.

To make the most of your time and efforts, you must identify and understand precisely what you’re aiming toward. For instance, instead of planning to add volume to your enterprise, outline a specific, attainable number to work toward. Or, if you’d like to add an administrative staff in the years to come, consider the details of this decision—the money it would take, the type of people you’d want to hire, how many hours per week they’d work, what tasks they would complete, etc. Adding hard details to your goals not only makes them more realistic, but progress is more easily made when you have specific items you can cross off your to-do list along the way.

While there are no 100% fool-proof or guaranteed routes to success, shifting your mindset from the present and the abstract, to the specific and the long-term can have a major impact on your chances of success.

Instead of dreaming of being more productive or successful, do yourself a favor and craft a gameplan you can bank on.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

IRENE BAUSMAN Award-winning Broker Irene Bausman – of Madlom Real Estate in Lone Tree, Colorado – is a hardworking, truly dedicated real estate professional who consistently places the needs of her clients front and center during each and every transaction. Honest, dependable and possessing a wealth of industry knowledge, Irene has a proven track record as an intelligent, compassionate and highly successful real estate advocate, and has more than earned her stellar reputation for helping her buyers and sellers in the Denver Metro area achieve their goals.

By any measure, Irene has lived a fascinating life. Born and raised in Poland, and having lived in Germany for a short time, Irene emigrated to the United States in 1983, speaking very little English. Since then, she has not only mastered the English language, but she has also earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and held a security clearance for fifteen years as a contractor with the Department of Homeland Security, among other notable achievements. Irene, who also speaks Polish and German fluently, decided to obtain her real estate license in 2016, a career that brings together all of her many skillsets and provides exceptional value to her many clients.

Currently, almost the entirety of Irene’s considerable business is based upon returning clients, referrals and positive word-of-mouth, a significant achievement in the highly competitive Denver market. “It’s about the service I provide,” says Irene, when asked how she has managed to inspire so much trust and loyalty amongst those she works with. “I communicate well with all of my clients, both past and present. I do my due diligence, I work hard, and I take a sincere interest in the wellbeing of my clients. I don’t just look at the paycheck or commission at the end of the road, It’s all about my buyers and sellers.”

There are many reasons for Irene’s impressive success story, and chief among them would be her excellent negotiation skills and strategic, intelligent and comprehensive approach to marketing. Supported by Madlom Real Estate’s excellent marketing arm, Irene leaves no Top Agent Magazine

stone unturned in her efforts to gain maximum exposure of her listings, including deft usage of social media platforms. All combined, this translates into fast sales for top dollar, not to mention happy customers who continue to return and refer others.

For proof of the excellent customer service she provides, one needs to look no further than Zillow.com, on which site she holds a perfect, five-star overall rating comprised of many glowing testimonials.

“I love serving my clients,” says Irene, when asked what she enjoys most about what she does for a living. “I love watching the joy on their faces when they either get the keys to their new home or they are able to sell their home and start a new chapter in their lives.

Irene, who in her downtime loves to walk her dogs and garden – has big plans for the future of her business.

Having recently been certified to work with military personnel, she looks forward to the influx of business this will bring. Aside from growing her already-thriving business, Irene maintains one overarching objective: to continue providing her buyers and sellers with the impeccable customer service that has become synonymous with her name.

For more information about Irene Bausman, please call 720-975-6651 or email Irene.Bausman@gmail.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 21

Andy Jorgensen is proud to congratulate

IRENE BAUSMAN

on being featured for the State of Colorado in Top Agent Magazine!

ANDY JORGENSEN Area Manager | NMLS #252635 office: (720) 679-3866 | cell: (303) 810-1191 ajorgensen@s1l.com 1490 W 121st Street, Ste. 101, Westminster, CO 80234 Synergy One Lending, Inc. | NMLS #1907235 | Equal Housing Lender

22

Top Agent Magazine

3 Surefire Methods that Make for a Productive Meeting Sometimes a business meeting can achieve exactly what it sets out to do: communicate, assess actions, set goals, or otherwise. Other times, meetings can feel like a drain on your time and energy, and only advance your agenda in marginal ways. While meetings are an integral form of communication in the professional world, how can you ensure that they are both productive and worthwhile?

Top Agent Magazine

The truth is, it takes intentioned planning to make a meeting a success. A well-curated meeting makes partners and employees feel unified as a team, excited about what’s to come, and motivated to achieve a collective goal. With that in mind, consider a few approaches below to maximize your next meeting and ensure that all parties involved leave with a renewed sense of direction and inspiration.

Top Agent Magazine ®

23

1. Create a detailed agenda in advance Oftentimes meetings are scheduled with a loose goal in mind—to hash out the terms of a contract or to strategize a new marketing campaign, for example. To ensure your meeting is productive, time-efficient, and achieves its end, create a detailed agenda in advance. This means breaking down your overarching goal into pieces and outlining what’s required to complete each component. You might also consider making time blocks for each respective component, so there is a clear structure and hierarchy in place. Not only does this ensure that time is used wisely and evenly, but it also creates order and momentum for the greater task at hand. What’s more, you’ll want to distribute this detailed agenda in advance of your meeting, so that all attendees will be familiar with the format and delineated goals of your gathering. This will set a professional tone, while keeping team members and conversation on task.

2. Reserve off-topics ideas and comments for later Too many meetings are derailed when an off-topic question or comment is made and hijacks the attentions of attendees. While it’s natural that outlying issues may arise when all team members are gathered, you can ward off distractions by creating a so-called holding area for off-topic talking points. This holding area will serve as the receptacle for any off-topic or lower priority addendum, and you can create a chunk of time towards the end of your meeting to readdress those 24

points separately. Once you’ve achieved the highest priority goals of your meeting, you can then return to the items in your holding area. Note: be sure to familiarize your staff with this approach so that the expectation is already in place and interruptions won’t distract from your meeting’s true intent.

3. Conclude every meeting with a brief summary and action items The very last thing you should do before concluding your meeting is to reemphasize the main takeaways of your gathering and outline a specific list of action items. Again, successful meetings are clear and give attendees a sense of direction. That’s why reiterating action items—or next steps in need of completion—to each respective employee is an essential component of a productive meeting. Likewise, summarizing main takeaways unifies a team’s understanding of what’s important and why the meeting was called in the first place. Ending on a concrete yet proactive note helps launch team members toward the next event in their day and gives them a sense of confidence as they tackle their duties.

Meetings don’t have to be a formality or a bore. When planned and executed with incisiveness, they can inspire your talent roster and streamline productivity in your office.

Especially in the world of real estate, ensuring everyone is on the same page and doing their jobs effectively is key to success and longevity. Put a little planning into your next meeting, and you’ll save yourself valuable time and energy as you move forward.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

LISA CIOFANI When Lisa Ciofani was ready for a career change, she turned to real estate with the encouragement of friends, who noted her passion for helping others, and for her home city of Baltimore. “My father had been one of the first people in Baltimore who did rehabs,” Lisa says, “so I grew up seeing houses being renovated. A friend said to me, ‘You really love the city and you love your neighborhood. Why don’t you sell houses?’

Fast forward, and here I am, and I love what I do.”

Now an Associate Broker and Realtor in Baltimore, Maryland, Lisa has earned accolades for her work, and has built a stellar reputation amongst her clients and partners. Committed to her ongoing growth and education, Lisa has earned many designations. She is an Accredited Buyers Representative, a Certified Residential Specialist, and a Certified Distressed Property Expert.

She has also been honored to be a Live Baltimore Preferred Agent. Working with estate sales, investors, and firsttime home buyers and sellers, Lisa is flexible and knowledgeable, and she places her clients’ experience at the center of her practice.

With her dedication, work ethic, integrity, and passion, it is no surprise that much of Lisa’s business stems from repeat clients and referrals. “I do also love working with first-time homebuyers,” Lisa says. “I gravitate towards helping people. No matter how crazy everything can be, when you turn your key and enter your home, it just makes everything better. I have a tagline that has been my motto for over nineteen years: ‘Don’t end your day in a house.

End it in your home.’ This job is not about sales for me.

It’s not just a job, either. I love being part of putting someone in their home.”

To market her listings, Lisa uses a comprehensive approach that combines traditional and innovative methods, including postcards and social media campaigns. Leveraging her extensive network, Lisa advertises to her professional contacts, helping her clients secure competitive offers for their homes.

For Lisa, it is the gratification of helping someone find their perfect home that drives her. “I tend to gravitate to people buying or selling their actual homes, whether they’re upgrading or downsizing,” Lisa says. “I love to see my clients happy.”

Committed to philanthropy and giving back to her community, Lisa is active in many organizations. At a local school, Lisa helped spearhead a music department, donating and raising money for instruments. She works regularly with shelters through volunteering, and also by donating food, furniture, and clothing. Passionate about animals, Lisa works with many animal shelters, as well, including a cat sanctuary founded by a friend. When Lisa is not busy helping clients or giving back her time, she loves to be active by doing yoga, dancing, swimming, or biking. Along with a close group of friends, Lisa loves to be outdoors.

Looking to the future, Lisa is committed to the continued growth of her business, and to her own professional growth as well. “One of the things I’ve learned is the importance of ongoing education,” Lisa says. “I have several designations and I want to earn more. I love that this job helps me to continue to grow and push myself. One agent said to me, ‘You never really have to retire.’ That resonated, because I just want to keep helping people. I’d like to expand my team and mentor younger agents, too. My door is always open: Helping people is what drives me and keeps me going.”

To find out more about Lisa Ciofani, you can contact her by phone at 410 960 4555 or by email at honlis@aol.com . You can also check her out online at ThePurrfectHouse.com www.

Top Agent Magazine

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 25

Robert D. O’Connell Jr. is proud to congratulate

Lisa Ciofani

on being featured for the state of Maryland in Top Agent Magazine!

T he O’Connell Team

Robert D. O’Connell Jr Branch Manager | NMLS# 476424 Mobile: 443-829-0300 Office & eFax: 410-690-7823 bob@mainstreethl.com | www.boboconnell.net

Top 1% Mortgage Originator in the US 26

Top Agent Magazine

Turning Your Profession into a Passion The old adage goes that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.

On the other hand, it’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day worries and responsibilities of your career, even if you generally enjoy what you do. While there’s no guaranteeing that every day on the job will be a picnic, there are a few steps you can take to vastly improve your morale and transform your profession into a passion.

After all, cultivating a passion for what you do will not only add to your quality Top Agent Magazine

of life, but will likely make you more successful in the long run.

BUILD YOUR BASE OF KNOWLEDGE Knowledge builds confidence, and confidence breeds success. A sure way to light a fire in your heart for your daily work is to challenge yourself to learn more and expand your understanding of your field. By doing so, you equip yourself for success, create challenges, and find the most inter-

Top Agent Magazine

27

esting features of your work—especially those that most appeal to your interests and talents. Try reading the top five books on the topic of your industry, or subscribe to a podcast where thriving professionals offer their two cents. Either way, learning more about your industry is bound to reveal a source of inspiration worth pursuing.

THINK ABOUT THE BIG PICTURE

and excelling in your field, you may find that others’ approaches inspire your own.

Likewise, what you learn from other successful, passionate people in your field can help you shape your own office and work life, in turn creating more opportunities for you to fall in love with what you do, all over again.

TAKE RISKS

CONNECT WITH LIKE-MINDED PROFESSIONALS

One of the biggest hindrances of professional passion is falling into a rut. Routines are familiar and everyday responsibilities vie for our energy. But the next time you tackle a task the way that you always have, take a moment and try to refresh your perspective—is there a more clever or efficient way you could approach this project?

Even better: why not take the plunge and do the things you’ve always been meaning to—throw that client appreciation event you’ve put off planning, take the continuing education course you keep forgetting to register for, even try a creative activity that pushes you out of your comfort zone.

There’s no better way to inject some passion into your life than by going outside your bubble and taking a risk.

Have you ever chatted with someone who was overflowing with energy for what they do? That sort of passion tends to be infectious—often causing us to beg our own questions about professional engagement.

By participating in local organizations or networking with those who are active

Passion comes from all directions—from your own interior journey and from the world around you. To transform your profession into a passion worth having, invest in yourself and venture into the vast world around you. You’ll surely reap the rewards.

Sometimes reinvigorating your passion for your work is about looking outward, rather than inward. Gain some perspective and consider who your work helps in the long run. As a real estate professional—whether you work as an agent, broker, in mortgages, home inspections, or otherwise—your work positively impacts someone else’s home-sweet-home. You make a difference. While it may seem like just another day at the office, taking a moment to visualize exactly who you are helping in the world at large is a great way to add some motivational fire to your daily tasks.

28

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

SCOTT HOWANICE Scott Howanice isn’t your typical real estate agent. With over 25 years of corporate and Wall Street experience, he’s able to offer his clients a knowledge of finance and negotiation strategy that most agents simply can’t match. He and his wife Lisa first became interested in the business eighteen years ago as an investment opportunity, while building their first home and flipping houses. “I really enjoyed the marketing process, the negotiation, and made note of it as something I might be interested in pursuing someday.”

That day came in 2018, when Scott decided he wanted to move into a career that would give him more time with his family and allow him to have a more direct and rewarding impact on people’s lives. He got his license and has never looked back.

“I have a natural fascination with the transaction process,” Scott explains, “but mostly my pleasure comes from helping people. There’s nothing better than watching my clients’ children’s faces light up when they scream, ‘Look at my yard!’ It’s extremely satisfying to be a part of bringing people’s dreams to life.”

Scott’s been very successful in that endeavor, spending the last three years serving clients around the Pompton Plains and Pequannock, New Jersey area. He’s also a relocation specialist, helping people move either in or out of the States. For the past two years he’s won the New Jersey Realtor’s Circle of Excellence Sales Award, closing 37 transactions for 12.4 million in sales volume in 20192020. With the help of his wife, who is also an agent and a CPA, Scott has built a business that has grown steadily every year. “We don’t sell, we build relationships. People come back to us because they trust that we have their best interests at heart, and because of the combined knowledge of the financial dynamics that we bring. I also have a long history in home construction and the negotiating process.”

A huge advantage of that experience is being able to position his clients well in the going market. “Many of my clients are first-time homebuyers, but even those who’ve Top Agent Magazine

been through this process before are likely facing a far different market than they did previously. It’s just been changing that fast. And at Weichert Realtors, we’re able to match buyers and sellers very quickly through our advanced marketing campaigns and search engine optimization tools, which make sure our listings get the best exposure.”

Scott loves helping his buyers find that perfect house, or helping his sellers prepare their home to pull maximum value from the market. His relationship with them extends far beyond the closing table, however, as he touches base with them several times throughout the year to see if there’s anything they need.

When he gets time off, Scott likes to travel with his family. He also enjoys the outdoors, going to the beach with his family, camping and skiing with his son, or just doing yard work, which he finds mentally relaxing.

Going forward, he wants to continue growing his business and providing excellent customer service. “This business has been a way for me to accomplish a lot of different goals, the most important of which is providing for my family while offering something of deep value to my clients. I want to keep that going.”

Contact Scott at 973-768-4348 or email Scotth.weichert@gmail.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 29

Erin Yosco is proud to congratulate

SCOTT HOWANICE

on being featured for the State of New Jersey in Top Agent Magazine!

Erin Yosco | Managing Broker Weichert Pompton Plains/ Weichert Kinnelon 973-839-4646 office | 973-229-5794 cell 30

Top Agent Magazine

3 Ways to Make Your Workspace Work for You Productivity experts agree that a curated workspace positively impacts productivity and mood, but oftentimes we settle for bland desks and cubicles that lack personalized details or considerations for workflow. Why miss out on the opportunity to optimize your surroundings when it could brighten your day—and boost your performance? Keep in mind some of these tactics to make your workspace your own and reap the benefits along the way.

Top Agent Magazine

DETERMINE YOUR WORKING STYLE AND DECORATE ACCORDINGLY For the creative set, a colorful and art-filled workspace can inspire fresh ideas and reduce stress. Likewise, casual yet aesthetically pleasing furniture, accessories, and décor set an inviting yet functional mood. A pop of color from an office tool—even something as basic as a stapler—can inject a sense of fun and modernism into your daily tasks. For the more analytical, right-brained worker, clean

Top Agent Magazine

31

lines and zero clutter go a long way. A few well-chosen personal photos in tasteful, unassuming frames can provide a motivating connection to the world beyond the office, while accessories and supplies that are sleek, monochrome, and contemporary inspire a sense of calm efficiency.

BUILD A WORKSPACE WITH YOUR DAILY ROUTINE IN MIND If you find yourself spending hours on the phone per day, or assembling stacks of documents and brochures, or even coming and going from the office with frequency—there are simple adjustments you can make to your workspace that will save you time and energy. If you sit for long hours—responding to e-mails or making calls—try incorporating an ergonomic chair or keyboard wrist-pad to maximize comfort. If you spend a long time assembling presentation materials, then file organizers, trays, and easy-to-pull labels can shave valuable time off your efforts. Lastly, those who step out for frequent meetings can reduce the hassle of being on-the-go by making your space mindfully organized—a coatrack and a dish for your keys by the door, an auto-brew coffeemaker, or an easily edited whiteboard calendar can make jet-setting simpler.

32

ADD EASY DETAILS THAT ENRICH YOUR WORKING EXPERIENCE While organization and décor can rally productivity and mood, there are also a few extra details you can introduce to your workspace to improve the quality of your working life.

Healthy, easy to grab-and-go snacks—think nuts, homemade trail mix, and fresh fruit— can keep your energy up without the sugar crush or guilt. If there’s a window nearby, a hard-to-kill plant like a philodendron or a fern not only cleanse the air around you, but also provide a welcome connection to the natural world. Being prepared in a pinch is another great way to make your workspace work for you: a spare tie, a tube of lip balm, hand sanitizer, or a box of Band-Aids can save you a trip to the store when an unexpected need arises.

While we take great pains to make our homes our sanctuaries—complete with the decorations, furniture, and food we favor—we often overlook our work areas, even though we spend a sizable portion of our week sitting at the same desk. Challenge yourself to add a few of these personalizing, productivity-boosting details to your work area and bring the comfort of home to your working life.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

JOHN & RENEE PROCENKO Honesty & Integrity: Keys to Success Top Agent Magazine

33

Whatever he has tried his hand at, from the painting business he started in high school, to his first real estate investment venture before he was out of his teens, to building a team of dedicated real estate professionals, John Procenko has succeeded. Why? His dedication to his clients, his commitment to the principles of integrity and honesty, and his focus on continuous improvement. These are the qualities that have catapulted John into the top 1% out of the 55,000 Realtors in the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board.

“John takes his profession very seriously,” explains his wife, Renee, who is also a REALTOR®. “He’s been in this business for 35 years and holds many special designations, including Seniors Real Estate Specialist, Certified Executor Advisor and Certified Commercial Investment Member, which is the highest commercial real estate designation in North America, and not easy to obtain,” she adds.

John and Renee are at the helm of The Procenko Group, a team of sales agents and specialized experts 34 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

focused on staging, marketing and administration at Century 21 Leading Edge Realty Brokerage in Markham. “Our agents sell homes. They build relationships. They problem solve. They negotiate.

They make sure our clients don’t buy the wrong home. Meanwhile, the rest of the team does what they do best: powerful marketing and rock-solid paperwork,” John explains. “We are a full-service team and look after everything for our clients, including cleaning, decluttering, staging, and more.”

An important key to John and Renee’s success is their multifaceted marketing strategy. “We put a huge emphasis on online marketing. For us, putting a listing on the MLS® is only the beginning. We go to great lengths to profile the target buyer for our listings and create a marketing campaign to reach them,” Renee explains.

John and Renee personally own numerous investment properties and are highly experienced landlords and property managers. “Investing in real estate is a passion of ours. Each member of The Procenko Top Agent Magazine

Group owns income-producing properties, and we help our clients to do the same. We believe that one of the best ways to build wealth is through real estate and have helped hundreds of clients do exactly that,” John says. “Most REALTORS® concentrate on finding you a home. That’s just one half of the equation. We go above and beyond by finding you a financial solution that matches your lifestyle.

We call it ‘successful home-buying’.”

When working with The Procenko Group, clients can rest assured that their best interests are being considered every step of the way. “Many agents offer great service, but not-so-great advice. Others offer great service, great advice, but lack communication.

Top Agent Magazine

Though we’re not perfect, we strive to offer our clients excellent service, excellent communication, trusted advice and a personal touch,” explains John.

“We truly believe in people, their dreams, and care about all of our clients, who we now consider our extended real estate family,” adds Renee.

John’s honest advice and client-centered approach has helped him create a large network of repeat and referral clients. “Because I’ve been through so much in all areas of real estate, I can truly guide our clients toward the best outcome, and they reward me by sending their friends and family my way, which is really the highest compliment someone in this business can get.”

35 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Outside of work both John and Renee are involved in their community. Renee is on the board of the Markham Inter-Church Committee for Affordable Housing, while John assists the board with real estate matters. They also proudly support Evergreen Hospice in Markham and Easter Seals, a children’s organization near and dear to their hearts. In their spare time, they love hiking with their boys, cooking and traveling.

Going forward, the Procenko’s are focused on expanding their team and growing the business.

With such a passion for real estate, John and Renee say they will most likely never fully retire, “Real estate is so much more than just a job, it’s in our blood.”

For more about John and Renee Procenko call (905) 472-7155, visit procenko.com or email team@procenko.com http://

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 36

Top Agent Magazine

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com http://www.topagentmagazine.com

Top Agent Magazine

37

What the First Thing You Do After Work Says About You We all have our routines. From that morning cup of coffee to a jog at the gym, it’s common to establish touchstones for our daily lives. But have you ever considered what these habits tell us about ourselves? Our actions reveal much about our motivations and emotional life, so taking a second look at your first move at the end of the day can be telling. With that in mind, see how you fare when it comes to post-workday habits...

Break a Sweat After a long day of work, is your first instinct to strap on your sneakers and take off on a run? Do you stop off at the local yoga studio for an extended stretch?

Maybe you head to the weight room to pump some iron. Whatever your exercise pick, if you’re inclined to sweat it out at the end of a long day, you’re likely a routine-oriented professional who internalizes work-related stress. Of course, you’ve chosen a healthy release for all that pent-up tension, and you’ve discovered the power of endorphins. Once work hours are over, not everyone finds the motivation to stay active.

This means you’re driven by routine, conscious of your emotional and physical health, and prefer to leave your cares at the gym, rather than bring them into your home oasis. However, it’s important to give your body a rest now and again, as recuperation time is not only beneficial for physical health, but can help prevent burnout for the long haul. Flexibility is a skill, and one just as important to cultivate as rigid commitment. If you find yourself out of sorts if you miss just one day of working out, you might want to pay some attention to your routines and motivations, and rebalance your commitments and fitness routine accordingly.

need to practice saying no. If your work life is indistinguishable from your personal life, it’ll be hard to catch a break and recharge. This means burnout, frayed nerves, and missed details will soon be on the horizon. Of course, round-the-clock hustle is a strength, too. You’re passionate about your work, care deeply about doing things right, and failure is not an option.

Just make sure that you establish some foundational boundaries so that you maintain an appropriate, healthy balance between your time at work and your time at home with the loved ones and hobbies you cherish. If making way for downtime isn’t easy, try penciling it in the way you would a work engagement. Dinner with a friend, a date night with a significant other, or a solo movie fest can be readily added to your calendar, and thus built in to your regimented schedule.

Turn to Food

Round-the-Clock Hustle

If your first instinct after work is to eat, it can say a few different things about your routine. Perhaps you’ve been so on-the-go all the day that you haven’t had time for lunch. In this case, you might need to regiment your schedule with more purpose aimed towards downtime and self-care; food is fuel, after all. If you head home and gorge after an average day, you may be turning to food as a way to relieve stress. In this case, you may need to reassess some of your post-work habits and find a healthier balance and outlet for your tension.

Taking a walk, grabbing fresh ingredients for dinner, hitting the gym, or decompressing by catching up with a friend or a good book—all are healthier, more balanced ways of executing the transition from the office to the home. Pay attention to your consumption postwork. Determine how hungry or satiated you really are before making a grab for the nearest sustenance.

If you’re the type to bring work home with you, you aren’t alone. While your motivation to work nonstop is admirable, it’s also important to make the mental transition from workplace to home, establishing the time to hustle and the time to relax. Just like those that hit the gym without fail after a long day, sometimes you’ll

People decompress in all different ways after getting home from the office, but always remember that routines are telling. Don’t take your daily actions and impulses for granted. Examine the root behind your well-worn practices, and you may detect nuances at play beneath the surface that can you help you recalibrate for the better.

38

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

AGATA KOWALCZYK

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine ®

39

AGATA KOWALCZYK

“I always want what’s best for my client, and I will always put their interests first. Clients know that, and that’s why they keep coming back.”

Agata Kowalczyk began her real estate career in 2008, after working in sever other industries and searching for the right fit. “When I became agent, it was a very tough market,” Agata recalls. “When I got my license, people were leaving real estate because the market was so tough. But a tough market teaches you, and everything I learned at that time through hands-on training, you wouldn’t be able to learn any other way. I feel that I was blessed to have come to the business at that particular time.” Agata has been a Circle of Excellence agent since 2010, and her business flourishes as she applies her hard-earned experience toward helping clients achieve their real estate goals.

Agata opened her own brokerage in 2017. She and her team serve central and northern New Jersey, including 40

Top Agent Magazine

Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Morris, Hudson, and Union counties. About 80% of the team’s business comes from repeat and referral clients, an impressive feat that speaks to the trust and confidence Agata and her team inspire. “I take good care of my clients,” Agata explains. “I always want what’s best for my client, and I will always put their interests first. Clients know that, and that’s why they keep coming back.”

When it comes to marketing listings, Agata and her team use a range of methods to ensure maximum exposure. “I have a set of marketing tools I use including virtual tours and posting to all the major real estate websites, as well as social media such as Facebook and Instagram,” Agata says. “You name it, and we will do it to help our clients.”

The results bear out all this hard work. “I would say about 98% of our properties sell after the first open house, and usually bring in significantly more than the asking price,” Agata says. “I will always try to get the most money for my client, with the least amount of hassle.” Last year Agata was a Circle of Excellence Gold Level agent, meaning sales of over $12 million.

Community involvement is important to Agata and her team. They hold events to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network, and also do whatever they can to help out in the community, working with organizations from St. Joseph’s Hospital to the local YMCA and others. “I love to get involved and contribute,” Agata says. “I enjoy being with people and helping out.” When she is not working or giving back, Agata loves spending time with her 4-year-old daughter and her two older sons.

In the future, Agata plans to continue growing her office, with a goal of becoming the top office in the area. “I want to work with knowledgeable agents who know their business, have clear goals for the future, and understand how to help clients,” Agata says.

“Every client who comes to us has a different situation, and I love thinking outside the box and figuring out how to help them. That is one of the things I absolutely love about this business. You never know who will walk in next, and here at RE/MAX 100 between our mortgage lady and the attorney on our team, we always find a way to help our clients” Top Agent Magazine

For more about Agata Kowalczyk, please call 973-460-8731, email AggieREMAX100@gmail.com or like us on Facebook at remax100nj.com 41

5 Fresh New Approaches to Content Marketing A couple of weeks ago we were conducting a workshop when we were asked two excellent questions about content marketing:

• People

don’t want to hear from a roofing company every day. So how do you produce fresh and interesting content for social media that goes beyond your core services and yet ties back to your business?

• Can

you extend your social media presence and content to include personal things (like your hobbies) and how does that affect your overall business image?

42

The workshop attendee who asked the first question was right. Almost no one wants to hear from any company every day… especially if all the content is about products and services…and yes, even if they’re giving helpful tips and information. Does that mean you should stop producing excellent daily content related to your business? No, of course not! Content is created for two reasons.

First, to provide knowledge, expertise and even entertainment to your ideal customers in order to achieve top of mind awareness as an authority in your industry. And second, to produce SEO-rich results that keep you at the top of search engines. You must strike a

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

balance between the two, and try to include content that draws people in by being super interesting and entertaining….and yes, sometimes personal.

To help answer those content questions above, here are five different types of content (beyond the traditional stuff) that can give your brand a fresh, unique and balanced approach:

1. PHILANTHROPIC Your community efforts say a lot about who you are, and people will make an extra effort to do business with you as a result of this connection. We’ve consulted business owners who are very hesitant to promote these efforts because they don’t want it to seem as though they are exploiting the charities and organizations—and most especially because they don’t do it for the promotional aspects. They do it to give back. I ask you to keep this in mind. Nonprofit and charitable organizations very often have small marketing budgets. Not only do they rely on outside marketing forces to promote their initiatives, they would likely be forced to close their doors without that support. That means that when someone with a strong brand and presence promotes them, it’s a highly trusted and personal connection, and you can’t buy that kind of support. In other words, they not only need you to promote them, they want you to promote them. But your instincts are correct. It’s not about you. So just make sure your entire content focuses on the organization you’re helping, what they do for the community and how Top Agent Magazine

others can join in the cause. Then it becomes a huge win for all.

2. HOBBIES You bungee jumped from four of the tallest bridges in the U.S. In your spare time, you go fly fishing. You love playing chef and use only locally grown, organic foods. Your friends are always begging you to go to Vegas with your card shark talents. You’ve done mission work in Africa and would like to start your own group. You almost played professional baseball. You have an insane talent for gardening design or bass guitar.

Your family works at a soup kitchen once a month. Ok…you get the picture. And two more words. Reality TV. People are interesting…and people are interested in interesting people. We remember others based on these unique traits. And most of all, people love the story behind the face. Don’t be afraid to share your hobbies. Quite often, it’s the first thing that will personally connect you to a prospect.

3. CREATIVE CONNECTION This one is perhaps our favorite. While we can’t imagine seeing something come across our news feed from a landscaping company every day, imagine this for a moment. What are we always told to remember in this hectic world? Stop and smell the roses, right? So what if…a landscaping company posted a beautiful flower each day, just to remind you to ‘stop and smell the roses’. And at the bottom of that photo (small print), you included

Top Agent Magazine

43

the type of flower and type of environment needed to make it flourish (moist soil, full sun, etc.). And then, of course, watermarked it with your logo….and a title like, “Sam’s Daily Reminder: It’s Time to Stop & Smell the Roses”. You could even include some great, thought-provoking quotes. It has the personal connection (Sam), the business connection (flowers & logo watermark) and a cool creative connector (pause the meetings and paperwork to take a moment and appreciate life by noticing this beautiful flower). This is a great idea for staying ‘top of mind’ and connecting business with the kind of creative messaging people wouldn’t mind seeing every day.

4. EXPERIENCES This one is similar to hobbies from the personal aspect, but instead of something that identifies us like our hobbies, our experiences are random happenings that can have great interest and meaning to our audience.

Whether you have a unique experience buying a new car or a fateful conversation with a stranger in the airport, if you feel it ties into a life lesson or business lesson you’d like to share, by all means do. The lesson is to keep your radar up 24/7. Any experiences you have which relate to your

ideal customer are an opportunity to connect beyond the business world. And when we do that, we become a part of the family.

5. INFLUENCERS “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”. You’ve probably heard that saying, and the same is true whether you are a teenager or a business owner. Maybe you’ve learned a lot of your business knowledge from Bill Gates, Steve Jobs or Warren Buffet…or you like to quote Benjamin Franklin. Perhaps you have some mentors you’d like to recognize and tell why they’re important to you. Sharing the people and things that influence us is what makes us human. No matter how successful your business, you didn’t get there alone. People and circumstances shaped you along the way. Recognizing others for their contribution in our lives, large or small, is important in staying connected and grounded.

We hope these five types of content help you to put a fresh spin on what you share with your audience, whether personal or professional. We believe you must have the combination of both to build an incredible brand.

Tonya Eberhart is the Branding Agent to Business Stars and founder of BrandFace®, LLC. Michael Carr is America’s Top Selling Real Estate Auctioneer & BrandFace® partner. Together, they focus on personal branding and marketing designed to help real estate professionals become the face of their business & a star in their market. BrandFace® for Real Estate Professionals is a book, professional speaking series and an exclusive workshop for agents, and is currently active in 18 U.S. states, Canada and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.BrandFaceRealEstate.com.

44

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

LAUREN TAYLOR Top Agent Magazine

45

LAUREN TAYLOR

Once Lauren Taylor started working in the real estate industry, she was immediately hooked.

“My life partner Dustin and I started a preservation company, cleaning out foreclosed homes during the housing crisis,” she explains.

“I developed relationships with banks and asset managers and thought I should get my real estate license to explore those connections.”

Lauren started working with bank-owned properties, which aligned her to transition into single family rentals when they became an asset class. It was this move that sparked her long-term vision of combining renovations, investments, rentals and residential sales. Today her dream has come to fruition, as she owns and leads Realty Haven headquartered in Columbia, SC. Within the company are various verticals to help buyers and sellers in all aspects of real estate, including Rent Haven, Reno Haven, and Realty Haven.

46

“We really wanted to build out a departmentalized operation so we can tackle all sides of residential and commercial real estate,” she explains. Lauren and her team of 34 help clients purchase and sell homes or investment properties, while also managing renovation projects and rentals. Although the majority of their business consists of large institutional investors, Realty Haven has just launched a public facing

Copyright Top Agent Magazine

model which allows them to offer unparalleled savings to general consumers. “We’re running two different specials, which is a 4% commission for sellers and 1% cashback on the purchase price for buyers,” Lauren says.

Whether they’re assisting a family purchase their first home, managing a company’s commercial space, or anything in between, Realty Haven has the team and experience to offer exceptional service.

Covering a wide territory that includes Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, and expansion plans for 4 more markets this year, they maintain constant communication with their clients and offer state of the art marketing to capture national interest. “We have a marketing team and we offer matterport 3D tours for all listings while using all of the traditional channels like Facebook and Instagram. But one of our biggest advantages is our investor connections, where we can find a lot of pocket buyers that are consistently looking for inventory.” Their method is clearly working, with an average sales volume of 1000 properties each year.

Looking ahead, Lauren and her team have their sights set on building their residential client base, serving more individual investors, and growing their Non-profit, Haven Home. “We are able to offer what I believe to be the future market standard of commission pricing to the general public, with a focus on providing more affordable housing solutions for the communities we’re in. What we want is for people to know that they are working with a professional firm, and that they’re getting the same level of service that large investors get, which is ultimately more specialized.”

Top Agent Magazine

For more information about Lauren Taylor, please call 803-281-8121 or email lauren@therealtyhaven.com, visit realtyhaven.com https://

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 47

5 Tips to Make New Hires

a Long-lasting Success Bringing a new employee into the mix is process commonly known as onboarding. The idea behind onboarding is to make the transition from new hire to team member as efficient and pain-free as possible. However, polling shows that some 31% of entry-level and intermediate level hires leave their new posts within just six months of starting. The question is: why?

The hiring and training process is time-intensive and doesn’t come cheap. This means that making 48

a good match for the long haul requires more than just assessments of skill and personality. To ensure a talented new hire sticks around and is truly positioned for success, the onboarding process must be executed with the same care applied during hiring. For a few ideas on how to make the most of the onboarding process, consider the tenets below as you guide your new hire toward long-lasting success within your company.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

1. Be honest about the scope of the role

2. Build in some perks

Let’s say you’re looking to add a new buyers agent or loan processor to your team. You write up the position’s responsibilities, but neglect to mention that you want the new hire to handle a host of administrative tasks, as well. Maybe it doesn’t seem important enough to outline in detail, as it’s the sort of thing the rest of your does. Miscommunications like these are a leading reason why new hires leave their roles.

If there isn’t clarity and transparency about a position’s true responsibilities, then new hires may become quickly disillusioned and seek out greener pastures.

Top Agent Magazine

While stocking the breakroom with bagels every Friday may seem like a small gesture, it’s often those little morale-boosting moves that build loyalty and comradery among the team. Bike-to-work incentives, subsidized gym memberships, and benefits that match the needs of your employees—all are ways to demonstrate appreciation and investment in your team.

Likewise, the right candidate will return the favor and invest his or her energies into their new role.

Top Agent Magazine ®

49

3. Get a sense of big-picture career plans

4. Keep the lines of communication open

Another reason new hires move on may have nothing to do with you or your office. In fact, many hires in entry-level or even intermediate roles have doubts about their long-term vision.

That’s why it’s important to be upfront from the beginning regarding a candidate’s five-year plan and ultimate dream job. Maintain realistic expectations when asking these questions, but use it as an opportunity to gage a candidate’s seriousness about the real estate or mortgage industry. Why this line of work over another?

Emphasizing industry longevity and career growth during the interview process can save you drama down the road.

Take a proactive approach in communicating with your new hire. Take time to check in regularly during the first six months of his or her addition. If you can, make time to train new hires yourself—if only for a part of the onboarding process. You’ll forge a deeper professional bond and create an avenue for further questions. All in all, make it clear that you’re personally invested in their presence and talents, and that you care what they have to say. That way, if any issues or doubts arise, you can stay on top of it and work out a solution, rather than lose a new employee.

5. Give new hires meaningful work to do It’s natural to keep the kid-gloves on with new hires, but don’t let that stop you from giving them a chance to shine. New team members will feel empowered and motivated if given meaningful projects to focus on. Don’t relegate their daily duties to busy work as they build experience.

Instead, task new teammates with something challenging, or that draws on a specific skill you hired them for. You’ll instill confidence, demonstrate your commitment to their growth, and with any luck—keep them around for the long haul.

50

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

STEVE FREEMAN Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine ®

51

STEVE FREEMAN

Steve brings over twenty-seven years of experience to his work in real estate. Before becoming an agent in his own right, real estate was a family business.

His mother a top agent in the Metro Atlanta area, and taught him the importance of honesty and integrity in business, a value that he holds dear and practices each day.

At twenty-eight, Steve became a managing broker of RE/MAX Newnan, and went on to open the fifth Keller Williams franchise in the state of Georgia. To date, he has personally sold over 2,000 homes and received over 150 five-star reviews.

“The key element to our business is that we treat everybody like we would want to be treated,” Steve says. “I love what I do, and I love helping people.”

As a third-generation builder, Steve has studied the industry in depth over the years. His wealth of knowledge helps set him apart from others in the field.

“I’m multi-faceted because I have a construction background as well as a realtor background,” Steve explains, “which is a perfect storm for most of my clients.”

Today, Steve runs Steve Freeman Real Estate Group at Exp Realty where he leads a team of agents covering the south metro Atlanta area. Over sixty percent of Steve’s business comes from repeat and referral clients.

Steve and his teams’ high standard of customer service shows the genuine care they invest in helping their clients and is what Steve attributes to their success with repeat and referral business.

52

Copyright Top Agent Magazine

Steve and his team are diligent about staying in touch with past clients. Utilizing an array of platforms, from social media to phone calls to snail mail, Steve ensures that his past clients are kept in the loop well after they’ve closed the deal on their dream home.

When it comes to marketing, Steve says, “It’s a digital world for us today,” referring to how his listings are aggressively marketed nation-wide through a range of online platforms. Each listing features professional photography, and drone coverage when applicable. “The market’s changed for us now,” Steve explains. “We were doing walk-through videos for each home, but with the way homes are flying off the shelf we can’t get that produced fast enough before they sell.”

Typically, Steve and his team close fifty to sixty transactions a year for an average of fifteen to twenty million dollars annually.

As conscientious agents, Steve and his mother have been active supporters of their local food bank and church. Steve is also an ambassador for Agents Act, a nonprofit organization working against human trafficking. As father of two wonderful daughters, he has a passion for this fight.

When he’s not working, Steve loves fishing. He stays healthy, hitting the gym regularly, and has recently rediscovered his love of golf.

Steve recently was acknowledged for his 25th straight year receiving the Circle of Achievement Silver Phoenix Award. Looking to the future of his business, Steve envisions easily, fifteen or more years of growth and service to his clients.

“I think it comes down to the fact that we always want people to know that we really do care about them and their transaction,” Steve concludes. “For us it’s never about the money. The money shows up if we do a good job. If we were in it just for the money, people would see right through that.

Our approach to this is one of serving our clients to make sure they’re getting what they want and need when they use our services to assist them in buying or selling their home.”

Top Agent Magazine

Find out more at stevefreeman.com.

Connect with Steve at 770-318-8767, or email steve@stevefreeman.com www.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 53

5 Tips to Get New Clients If you’ve been in the industry for a while, you’ve probably built up a healthy percentage of repeat and referral business.

Although it can be tempting to just maintain those relationships rather than generating new business, there’s something to be said for staying on top of 54

your game by never resting on your laurels. Actively pursuing new clients is not only a way to generate more business, but depending on how you do it, it could even lead to a profitable new niche. Here are just a few ways to build up your new client base.

Top Agent Magazine

1

Become a referral partner with industry peers

2

Cold Call Expired and FSBO Listings

Everyone from mortgage lenders, to financial planners, to insurance agents, can be potentially lucrative referral partners for a Realtor®. You may already have great relationships with some that just need to be more formalized. But, you don’t just want to partner with anyone, make sure these are people you also feel completely comfortable referring your clients to - people who share your values and work ethic.

Another avenue to consider is divorce attorneys – yes, you heard that correctly. Helping people go through this difficult period actually requires a very specific skill set.

You need to be able to handle the legal aspects, as well as the emotional ones. There are numerous training courses you can take if you decide to take this route, which could end up being a lucrative and much-needed specialty.

This is a route a lot of agents take when they are just starting out, that usually leads to great success. You probably haven’t cold called since you started out, and this is a great skill to build up again.

It will not only sharpen your sales skills, but could generate a lot more business.

People with For Sale By Owners (FSBOs) and expired listings, are usually very motivated to sell. This is a great chance for you to really hone in on why they need to hire you. Do you offer innovative marketing plans? Access to a large sphere of influence? Expired listing clients are looking for ways to sell a property that seems impossible to move. With FSBOs, you need to show them how you can get them more money in their pocket, even

Top Agent Magazine

with paying you a commission. Pursuing both will really engage your mind to think outside of the box, which will not only get you more business, but make you better at what you do.

55

3

Partner up with a Relocation Company

4

Become a Builder’s Realtor® of choice

This is another niche market that you can really capitalize on if you want to pursue a new specialty. But, it is a specialty, so getting educated on the process will help you generate the business you want. It’s a complicated area of real estate, you’ll often

times be helping to facilitate dual transactions, as you try and secure a property at the same time you are helping your relocation client sell their previous home. This specialty is becoming an in-demand skill in areas that have major corporate headquarters.

This can be a real score for any Realtor®.

The competition might be fierce to land a client like this, but there are numerous ways to make yourself stand out from the rest.

Gain certifications and become knowledgeable about the construction process. Be wellversed on what trendy materials, features, and finishes will add value to a property.

Get the builder on board with you by offering to take just a segment of the subdivision then wow them with your marketing skills.

Take on properties they haven’t been able to sell. You can even offer to throw an open

5

Create a Website that Offers Real Value to Potential Clients

Perhaps the most useful way of getting contact information for people looking to sell is by adding a home valuation feature to your website. When people are first considering selling their home, finding out how much 56

house for them. This is another way to show them the level of service they can expect from you. These clients might be harder to land, but the payoff will be enormous.

it is worth is one of the first questions they want answered. By becoming a resource to potential clients (and current clients!), you just might be the first person that comes to mind when they’re actually looking to sell.

Top Agent Magazine

TOM PARRISH Top Agent Magazine

57

TOM PARRISH

After selling his company of which he was CEO, Tom Parrish wanted to find something fulfilling to do with his life. At the suggestion of a friend, Tom got licensed along with his wife, Terri, and together they started Parrish Real Estate Group, and have been thriving in the industry ever since. Tom is an experienced Realtor who genuinely cares about the well-being of his clients, and he is built an illustrious career on the back of his knowledge and strong work ethic.

Because of Tom’s unique background, he is afforded a lot of business experience and organization capability that many agents simply don’t have. He is collected and confident, and brings the competence of a businessman to each transaction. “Because of where I come from, having worked at a high level in accounting, finance, and sales, I have a lot to offer to my clients,” Tom says. Tom’s customer service is boosted by his business prowess, and he performs to the highest degree with every transaction he works on.

communicators who do everything in their power to ensure that their clients’ needs are met and they are well-cared for. “The client is the absolute most important part of what we do as Realtors,” Tom says.

“You have to make sure that you are there to offer the utmost caliber of service, while making sure you get the documents 100% correct and avoid creating issues for yourself. We work hard to make our clients happy.” With the effort that Tom puts into his client satisfaction, it’s no surprise that he gets a huge chunk of his business from repeat and referral customers.

The Parrish Real Estate Group uses numerous advertising methods to maximize the number of potential buyers who view their listings. Including all of

As someone who has spent his life working with people, Tom knows that his clients are the backbone of his business, and treats them as such. He and his wife are excellent 58

Copyright Top Agent Magazine

TESTIMONIAL

“We met Tom Parrish after we thought we had given up on realtors. Selling our old place on our own was a daunting task for an elderly couple who had lived in the home for over twenty years. Our experience, though, had led us to believe that commissions costs did not justify engaging a realtor. Tom Parrish proved us really wrong on that point.....His help was critical to getting us through a process that eventually brought us a selling price at or above what he had first suggested. Tom inspires a confidence that reflects the deep knowledge and competence of someone who is an expert in his field. We took a few months to get the place ready with Tom’s help at each stage of the process. He found people to do cleaning, minor repairs, pick up trash and to put down flooring and fix a bathroom – all at reasonable prices. When we were in a time-bind, Tom even took the time to buy and bring construction materials that we needed. We often called him with questions but, much of the time, our calls were really for moral support. Tom always returned our calls rapidly and kept our outlook hopeful. We were not sure about selling the selling place “as is” but Tom’s comprehensive knowledge of the real estate market and his warm personal support led us to walking away with a much better deal than we could have hoped for selling the place on our own.”

—Gene & Lisa Christian thetraditional methods such as the MLS, Aggregator sites and to other realtors in town; but they also utilize unique Postcard Campaigns, their monthly PREG Newsletters, craigslist ads in the major west coast cities (since many buyers are from those places) as well as Spokane. They have also had huge success for their clients posting listings on their Billboard at the corner of Maple and NW BLVD; which gets 133,592 views per week! They have had so much success with the first billboard, they are adding a second Billboard on Country Homes (close to Francis) which will get their clients another 111,836 views per week. Their unique methods have produced great results for clients.

Tom exhibits true joy with his work. After working a lot of different jobs over the course of his life, he’s truly living the dream. “This is the most fun job that I’ve ever had,” he says enthusiastically. “You get to meet new clients and new people every day. Helping people find their dream homes and move onto the next big transition of their life has been extremely rewarding.”

In their free time, Tom and his wife love golfing and supporting local businesses. They are elated with their work and look forward to bringing more Realtors onto the team to help them grow their business even further.

If you’re looking for a fantastic Realtor in Washington State, look no further than Tom Parrish.

Top Agent Magazine

Contact Tom by phone at (509) 951-2128, email TomP@ParrishRealEstateGroup.com, or visit parrishrealestategroup.com www.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 59

4 Qualities of Exceptional Employees Hiring a new employee is one of the more stressful parts of being a business owner. After all, you’re taking someone on and trusting that they’ll not only be a valuable addition to the team, but won’t do anything to hurt your business’s hard earned reputation.

Sometimes a person comes in and you click right away, and other times you might be blown away by an impressive resume. But there are things you should look for that might not be as obvious at first. Employees that have the following qualities are ones you should seek out, because they will definitely be well worth the time and energy you invest in them.

60

1. They have the confidence to be innovative There’s a reason people are drawn to those who think outside the box. Not only do innovations often lead to an extremely profitable business, even when that thinking doesn’t pan out, creative thinking is something that will energize your business and will motivate more employees to start taking chances.

Innovative thinkers also usually have great leadership skills. Ironically, you want an employee who isn’t afraid to speak up to authority and is someone who knows how to bend the rules without breaking them. They know that

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

the success of the team and business is what’s most important, as long as it’s done ethically and with respect for everyone involved.

2. They are constantly reviewing their past performance A good employee looks forward, but they also look back. They are always evaluating what worked and what didn’t work in past performances and then adjusting their plans going forward accordingly. If they are coming off a big win, they know how to capitalize on that by using the momentum and cementing in everyone’s minds the value that they add to the team.

If things didn’t go as planned, they assess what they can do better next time, and they don’t get bogged down in insecurity. They take responsibility and they have confidence that they won’t repeat past mistakes. They know that failure is a temporary state, and are able to learn lessons from their mistakes, that will make them a better employee going forward.

While no one wants to fail, having the confidence to try something and fail will one day let you strike gold. Someone who lets failure shut them down, leads to a dead end and will soon make them a dead weight on your team.

3. They value teamwork Even though an exceptional employee might be a rising star, they realize that success is Top Agent Magazine

not an individual endeavor, it relies strongly on who you’re working with. Exceptional employees make sure that everyone is contributing and valued for their input. They put the interests of the company above their own, and thrive in an environment where ideas and information are shared freely.

Shared success is the ultimate goal for every project. Exceptional employees have the confidence to know that even when they’re not singled out for praise, they’re an irreplaceable component of a larger machine.

4. They are self-motivated learners A key thing to remember is that while experience is a valuable commodity, intelligence and intellectual curiosity is usually something that can’t be taught. Yes, you might request employees get additional training or attend seminars, but exceptional employees will be seeking out educational opportunities constantly. Even if they don’t have a lot of money for weekend retreats, they will be getting books from the library, downloading audiobooks, and most importantly, taking advantage of one their greatest resources, YOU. Exceptional employees know that the way to stay ahead is to always be at the forefront of new technology and systems. They don’t see educating themselves as a burden, they actually enjoy it. They realize that everything they take in, will one day make them not only an exceptional employee, but an exceptional boss as well.

Top Agent Magazine

61

ALAN WILABY

AW

ALAN WILABY

Alan Wilaby began his journey in real estate when he was working as a hairstylist. One of his clients, a prominent Realtor, encouraged Alan to get into the business. “He saw potential in me,” Alan says. “He kept telling me that I could sell real estate the way I sold haircuts.

He was right! That was nearly forty years ago, and I still love what I do.”

With his long experience in the industry, his versatile skill-set, his expertise, and his client-centered approach, Alan has consistently been a top producing agent in his company, ERA Shields Real Estate.

He has also earned national recognition, and has been named in the top 1% of agents nationwide based on annual sales volume. Serving Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo, Alan has the experience and the knowledge to provide exceptional customer service at every price point.

62

Nearly all of Alan’s business stems from repeat clients and referrals, a figure that is a testament to Alan’s dedication and compassionate approach. Alan is ready to help his clients with every aspect of the process of buying or selling a home. In addition, he is there for his clients well past the buy or sell date. “It’s about listening and understanding the client’s needs,” Alan says. “Then, it’s about removing any obstacles in the way of their goals. I make sure my cli-

Copyright Top Agent Magazine

ents remember that I am there for them. I can provide them with information about their home, estimates, or referrals. I have that information at my fingertips. They know they can rely on my counsel.”

Alan keeps in diligent touch with his past clients. With a firm belief in a personal touch, Alan prefers to stay abreast of his clients’ needs and lives through phone call check-ins. To market his listings, Alan leverages his extensive network, and provides his clients with broad coverage across digital platforms. This past year, he completed nearly twenty-four million dollars in sales. Known for higher-end listings, Alan is also ready to help clients across a wide price range. “I hold the record in my company for having the highest sales price and the lowest,” Alan says. “I will work with everybody.”

What Alan likes most about what he does is the variety. “Even after all these years, it’s never boring,” Alan says. “There is always something to do, always something to learn, or somebody to help.”

Alan commits much of his philanthropic efforts to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. When he is not busy helping clients, he loves to ski, and to take advantage of everything that Colorado Springs has to offer.

For Alan, the biggest lesson to impart to new agents is perseverance. “If you’re new in the business, don’t give up,” Alan says.

“My first year, I made $2750. I kept going and growing. You have to build your success, no one will hand it to you. Be steady, keep at it, and keep your clients close.”

Top Agent Magazine

AW

ALAN WILABY

To find out more about Alan Wilaby, call 719-338-1100, visit alanwilaby.com or email alanw@erashields.com https://

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 63

4 Reasons Why Multitasking Can Actually Derail Your Day Common wisdom dictates that a master multitasker is likely to garner the most success. After all, doesn’t juggling multiple projects at once mean you’ll work faster than if you took each one as it came? While multitasking is often cited as a desirable skill—and surely serves its purpose now and again—studies show that a mere 2% of individuals can actually multitask effectively. Meanwhile, the remaining 98% might be doing more harm than good by trying 64

to tackle too much at once. Take a look below at some little-known facts about the risky side of waging a routine built on multitasking.

1. Multitasking decreases productivity While multitasking gives us the illusion of completing two tasks at once, it actually means

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

our focus and productivity is split. In other words, switching back and forth between two activities doesn’t mean they’ll each be completed sooner; it means that you’re getting half-as-much complete as you would if you focused on a singular task. Multitasking fatigues your brain, elicits stress, and make you less efficient in retaining new information.

2. Multitasking is actually addictive While watching TV or taking a walk, have you ever noticed the impulse to check your smartphone or scroll through your social media feed? Even though we think about multitasking as a workplace skill, it’s also an addictive form of mental stimulation. By satiating our need for distraction with constant check-ins online, we become accustomed to frequent breaks in our focus, training us to crave updates, messages, and push notifications—we even hit refresh when we’ve checked in five minutes prior! This negative habit-building makes it difficult to complete sustained bouts of concentration.

3. Multitasking has negative physical side effects Studies show that those who juggle multiple focus-intensive activities actually show spikes in cortisol, a stress hormone. Likewise, frequent multitaskers display symptoms of sleep deprivation: fatigue, disorientation, and lack of focus. Studies in Europe have recently Top Agent Magazine

discovered that those who consistently multitask may actually show decreases in empathy and emotional control. What’s more, a constant sense of anticipation—readying to switch from one task to another, or persistently checking for e-mail updates—can potentially cause a decrease in overall IQ.

4. Multitasking breeds mistakes When our attention is split between tasks, it’s difficult to perceive and retain detail-oriented information. Because of this, mistakes—typos, clerical errors, mislabeled documents, and the like—occur with greater frequency. We’re in such a hurry to complete a portion of a task and switch to the next project that we lose sight of prompts, deadlines, and tying up loose ends. This means multitaskers are far more likely to overlook a glaring error than an individual who is devoting 100% of their attention to the task at hand.

Now that we understand some of the dangers of multitasking, what can we do about it? While our tech-driven day-to-day might make focusing on a singular task a difficult endeavor, it’s the surest way to produce efficient, error-free work—while cutting down on stress, fatigue, and miscommunication.

Try approaching your tasks for the day with a clear-cut schedule, moving one task at a time down your to-do list. This approach can eliminate some of the inefficiency inherent in multitasking and make for your most productive work routine yet.

Top Agent Magazine

65

DANIELLE BEITZ | BROKER

TOP 100 INDIVIDUAL RE/MAX AGENTS 2020 2020 DIAMOND CLUB AWARD

Danielle Beitz began her real estate career just over 10 years ago. “I had started watching home shows on HGTV,” Danielle recalls, “and I got hooked. I knew I wanted to go into either interior decorating or real estate, so I started taking courses in both.

Once I started the course in real estate, I loved it and I knew this was what I wanted to do. I had my license within half a year, and I never watched another show again, because I became the show!”

The rest is history, and Danielle’s real estate business has grown year over year as she helps more and more clients achieve their real estate goals.

I don’t let them go,” she says. “I don’t feel like it’s a job. I’m very high-energy and I’m always doing something, so real estate and I are a natural fit.

I just love it.”

When it comes to marketing her listings as well as herself, Danielle finds great success with social

With RE/MAX Parry Sound Muskoka Realty, Danielle serves the Parry Sound area of Ontario.

A significant portion of her business now comes from repeat and referral clients, an impressive feat that speaks to the trust and confidence she inspires.

Danielle attributes her ever-growing referral base to the dedication and passion she brings to real estate. “When I speak to a new buyer or seller, 66

Top Agent Magazine

media and online marketing. “I do professional videos and 3D virtual tours, because it’s very important to make sure listings are presented well online,” Danielle explains. Her strong presence on social media including Instagram and Facebook also allows her to connect on a personal level. “It’s probably the entertainment side of me, growing up as a dancer and performer, but I like to make people laugh and make them happy. My social media is not dry, it’s personable.”

The results speak for themselves: in a typical year, Danielle’s volume ranges from 75-100 properties. “Things are a little different in cottage country,” Danielle says. “We work very hard up north, and I put on 100,000 km a year.

I do it all on my own, with no team, and my sister working as my assistant.” When she is not working, Danielle loves to spend time with her family. She also enjoys writing and painting.

In the future, Danielle plans to continue growing her business. She also recently began investing in real estate on her own. “I just acquired my first couple rental properties, and I’m focusing on adding to my portfolio,” she says.

Above all, Danielle wants to continue bringing extraordinary service to her clients and brightening their day. “I’m a people person. I love meeting new people, and I love that every day is something new. No day or appointment is ever the same, and I love that about real estate. I get to be out there every day making a difference, making people laugh and smile.”

RE/Max Parry Sound-Muskoka Realty Ltd., Brokerage Each office independently owned and operated

Danielle Beitz, Broker Top 100 individual RE/MAX Agents 2020 2020 Diamond Club Award

Top Agent Magazine

To find out more about Danielle Beitz, please call 705-938-0191, email listwithdanielle@gmail.com or visit daniellebeitz.com 67

4 Ways to Win the Battle Against Procrastination One of the most common professional afflictions is procrastination. The funny thing is, everyone knows that procrastination is negative—it’s a waste of time, a creator of stress, and is entirely a problem of our own making.

Still, knowing all of this doesn’t necessarily decrease our odds of procrastination. There are plenty of explanations we give when putting 68

work off until the last minute. Perhaps you convince yourself that you work best under pressure, but it’s truer that you’re used to working under pressure by necessity. Maybe you’re a perfectionist and the fear of getting it all wrong puts you off from the task. Whatever the justification may be, overcoming procrastination requires some willpower and technique. With

Top Agent Magazine®

Top Agent Magazine

that in mind, take a look at a few tricks below to jumpstart your motivation and nix the lastminute time crunch. After all, you owe it to yourself and your business to operate like a procrastination-free professional.

1. Make Your Intentions Known As realtors and mortgage professionals, you may serve as your own boss. So, when the time comes to complete a task and you put it off—perhaps you’re only disappointing yourself. This is easily remedied by making a new promise to try again tomorrow. On the other hand, it’s much harder to break promises and commitments to others. Try verbalizing your intent and commitment to your team, or to an assistant who can hold you accountable, or better yet—to a business partner or to a client.

Make a hard deadline public and you’re likely to perform for fear of embarrassment or losing face. In a way, this puts the pressure of expectation on you, instead of the pressure of the ticking clock.

2. Take a Baby Step When tasks pile up, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. If you’ve got a number of items on your to-do list, including some heavy hitters that require a lot of attention and time, begin by taking on something simple. Identify an easily completed job that needs attention and put it first in your queue. Duties that are straightforward and aren’t time-intensive can lead you to the rest of your to-do list, fueling you with the satisfaction of a task already complete. Even if it’s as small as returning e-mails, or dropping off your dry-cleaning, one simple thing off your Top Agent Magazine

list can inspire you to continue on to the next item in the spirit of productivity.

3. Work in Windows If work is the last thing you want to do and you can’t seem to self-motivate, make a compromise with yourself. Agree to work just fifteen minutes, and mean it. This tiny window of time is easy enough to complete, isn’t overwhelming, and you’ve already agreed to move on once time is up. The truth? Odds are that just fifteen minutes of active work will inspire you to keep going. After all, the most difficult part of procrastination is getting started. By putting in those fifteen minutes, you’ll trick yourself into diving into the action.

4. Switch Up Your Environment If you’re stuck in rut when it comes to procrastination and productivity, try changing your surroundings. If the office feels stale and stressful, take your work to the nearest coffee shop and try to tackle your tasks there. Perhaps the quiet, studious ambiance of a library can make you focus, or a picnic table outside the office can stimulate the senses. Sometimes changing your scenery can breathe new life into your routine and give you the extra push you need to get work done.

There’s no one way to overcome procrastination.

In fact, it’s likely a lifelong process of building discipline, finding techniques that work for you, and simply prioritizing your time more effectively. Don’t lose hope—remember these tricks and winning the war will be possible, even if you lose a few battles along the way.

Top Agent Magazine®

69

GARY GARDINER JR.

With a family history in real estate, Gary Gardiner’s entrance into this industry was a natural one. He started off his professional career in law enforcement, and after over two decades, he was ready for a change.

“My whole family is made up of entrepreneurs, so I always knew I would end up following that path,” he says. Today he is the team leader of The Gardiner Group at Coldwell Banker Elite, and managing broker of the Massaponax office in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where the vast majority of his business consists of repeat clients and referrals. After 15 years in business, he’s developed a reputation in the region for providing top-notch service with guidance throughout the transaction. It’s this extensive experience, combined with his pursuit of education, that has helped him flourish.

REALTORS® Commitment to Excellence Endorsement,” Gary explains. “I feel like the more education I have the better, it’s really given me a ton of resources so I’m able to stand out at a higher level.” Not only does Gary utilize this knowledge to assist his clients, he also uses it to help his real estate agents grow, and it has clearly paid off. Year after year, Gary has increased his overall sales volume. To date, he has sold over $48 million in residential real estate sales.

Through Coldwell Banker’s robust marketing systems, Gary is able to spread the word far and wide about his

Gary’s designations include: ABR® (Accredited Buyer Representation), AHWD® (At Home with Diversity), CLHMS (Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist), CNAS (Cartus Network Affinity Specialist for Military Relocation), CRB (Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager), e-Pro® (Real Estate Technology), and SRS (Seller Representative Specialist).

“I’ve also earned the National Association of 70

Copyright Top Agent Magazine

business and listings. “We have two different programs, one is Elite Edge Listing Marketing System and the other is Paradym,” Gary says. “Elite Edge is really going out to the entire population, and we utilize that with every listing. Additionally, Paradym gives us the ability to merge with Realtor.com and Zillow, where we are also Premier Agents.” For each listing, Gary also provides professional photography, allowing the property’s best features to truly shine. Ultimately, Gary’s goal is to get ahead of the competition by thoroughly marketing each property. “We have a plethora of other systems in place that help us stand out, including CBx Buyer Locator, Cloud CMA, Updater, and Homespotter.”

Whether he’s working with a first time seller or a seasoned investor, each client receives a comprehensive pre-listing packet outlining exactly how their property will be advertised.

After the transaction, clients love spreading the word about Gary’s work. One writes, “Gary was recommended to me and my family 2 years ago when we considered selling our home. When Gary and I first met he laid out all of the possibilities for us and gave us the straight truth versus others that have wasted time with ‘ideas.’ Gary has a plan for each of his customers. We did not sell at the time, but decided two years later to finally sell. I would have never considered any other broker based on our previous meeting and how impressed we were with his direct and honest work ethic. To make a long story short, through his knowledge of real estate and our market, he sold our property in one day! Yes, one day, due to his instincts! Wow!” When Gary isn’t working, he’s staying active in the community. He nearly lost his life to cancer in 2018, but is now a survivor, which has inspired him to spread awareness. “My wife and I became ambassadors, to give back to the cancer community,” Gary explains. “So we have traveled the country sharing our journey in order to give hope back to families and patients in similar situations.”

Looking ahead, Gary is eager to continue growing his business and embracing life. “We do our best to be at the cutting edge of real estate, so my goal is to keep expanding and evolving as a leader within the brokerage.”

Top Agent Magazine

For more information about Gary Gardiner Jr, please call 540-424-7888 or email ggardiner@coldwellbankerelite.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 71

5 Things You Can Do To Achieve Your Biggest Goals If there’s one thing successful people can agree on, it’s that setting goals has been key to their success.

Whether you’re creating a five year plan or just settling on what you want to achieve by the end of the day, setting goals gives you the focus and direction you need to complete even the biggest tasks.

But there is a method to setting them. It’s a process that takes careful thought and consideration up front, which is then combined with the hard work necessary to implement your plan. Luckily there are proven methods to goal setting that you can start using immediately.

1. MAKE YOUR GOALS SPECIFIC Yes, it’s fun to think in grand terms of where you want to end up in life and in your career, but it’s better to have a specific goal like “Increase my sales by 25%”, than “Get rich.” When a goal is clear and specific, it allows you to figure out the exact steps you need to take to accomplish it. The more general it is, the more paralyzed you might be when it comes to figuring out what to do since, the choices may be overwhelming.

2. MAKE IT ATTAINABLE Making attainable goals might seem boring, I mean afterall, you want to dream big! But you don’t want to suffer through the disappointment of not reaching your goal, something that may not even be possible at this stage in your life to begin with. One solution to that is creating goal levels. You can have the dream goal, but underneath that you have the realistic goals that are setting up a foundation for achieving the big one. Things that are attainable still take work and effort to achieve. Those small victories will keep you motivated and encouraged to go for the bigger dreams. And don’t forget, those 72

little goals may have been things you wouldn’t have gotten done if you didn’t set out to achieve them, so be proud!

3. PUT A PLAN OF ACTION IN WRITING Your plan of action should include daily, weekly, monthly and yearly goals. There is something about seeing things in writing and crossing them off the list that is oddly satisfying.The daily goals are especially important in regards to building up those good habits. The first few weeks of your plan of action are critical when it comes to your long term success. Reaching a goal is something you are doing every day, all throughout the day, in numerous ways. Achieving goals is all about creating good new habits.

4. MAKE IT MEASURABLE This is key, since you definitely want to reward yourself for a job well done, and having a goal that is measurable in some way is a sure way to know.

Maybe it’s to increase your lead generation or to cut expenses, whatever the case, have a measurable test you need to meet, as well as a time frame. Then calculate what you have to do to reach that goal. Not only should your goal be specific, but the plan and the measure of success should also be set in stone.

5. ADJUST AS YOU GO You can have all the best laid plans, and you still might quickly realize that what you thought would help you reach your goal, might not be cutting it.

Commitment to reaching your goals is good, but commitment to a plan you know isn’t going to work is not only a waste of time, but will be a devastating blow to your motivation. Sticking to a plan everyday means adjusting it accordingly.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

ANDREW FINNEY After serving in the United States Marine Corps for nine years, Andrew Finney relocated to Las Vegas in 2013 and began seeking a career that spoke to his passion for helping others and his educational background in accounting. Considering these influences, he decided to pursue his real estate license—and the rest is history. Sure enough, Andrew found fast success in the industry, ranking in the top 3% of local agents by the end of 2014. Skip ahead to today, and he leads the Andrew Finney Team through the King Realty Group, where he assists clients throughout the entire Vegas area. Also an acclaimed Youtube influencer, Andrew has now built a nationwide fanbase around his values of integrity, openness, and attention to detail.

When listing a home, Andrew equips his clients with a comprehensive strategy. After providing them with a suite of professional photography, he broadcasts their property across everything from the local MLS to aggregate sites. He also uses targeted social media campaigns over Facebook and Instagram, as well as his own popular Youtube channel, to give clients an added advantage. On top of utilizing cutting edge resources like virtual homes tours and stand-out signage, he leans on his own sphere of influence, reverse prospecting to cater his listings to a specialized market of prospective buyers. “Reverse prospecting is one of my favorite sources,” he says. “That provides us with a distinct target audience, keeping the process efficient to the benefit of my clients.”

Elsewhere, Andrew is just as thorough when assisting his buyers, guiding them through their transaction from start to finish with a winning blend of open communication and market expertise. “The difference comes down to focusing on a client’s wants and needs, helping them understand the process, and asking questions to clarify what they’re looking for,” he says. “It’s Top Agent Magazine

crucial to view real estate as but one step in a person’s life journey. I care about where my clients are at the time and how I can help them achieve their goals in the future.”

For this boutique approach to service, Andrew has earned a fantastic reputation throughout the Vegas area, having garnered over 120 five-star reviews in 200 closings. Alongside his accomplished career in real estate, he has built a formidable media presence, with the Andrew Finney Team boasting 30,000 subscribers on Youtube. There, he has produced over 700 videos to educate clients and consumers alike on the nuances of the real estate market.

Going forward, Andrew has strong plans for the future of his business. In the months ahead, he intends on streamlining the mapping on his website to boost his efficiency, give buyers a better frame of reference in the community, and help sellers uncover the property value in their own niche neighborhoods. But through it all, he remains focused on the sense of compassion and joy that has already anchored his success. “I truly love helping people find the right house,” he says.

“There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a client through the process, building that personal connection, and understanding how a home fits into their life—and what that home means to them.”

To learn more about Andrew Finney please call (702) 710-0287, email Andrew@AndrewFinneyTeam.com or visit AndrewFinneyTeam.com 73

BARBARA BARDACH As a top-producing agent since the start of her real estate career in 2005, Barbara approaches every transaction with the highest level of professionalism and dedication to client satisfaction. Her intimate knowledge of the premier areas of Tucson—in particular Oro Valley, Dove Mountain, and the Tucson Foothills—and her expertise in luxury gated and golf properties have made her a highly sought-after luxury agent and placed her in the top 1% of All Tucson & Long Realty Agents.

“I’m an individual agent, so my clients work exclusively with me until we secure a contract.” Then, Barbara’s husband and real estate partner Stu Bardach, also a retired Silicon Valley hi-tech executive, helps ensure a smooth transaction is achieved. “We provide clients with ‘above and beyond’ white-glove service every time,” she explains when asked about her high rates of repeat and referral business.

Barbara prides herself on her attention to detail and educating clients throughout the transaction process.

She takes great care to listen to each client’s needs in order to find out what they truly hope to get out of the process. “I have an uncanny ability to listen between the lines and discern what clients really want. My goal for every transaction is a fair win-win.”

Barbara’s prior 18-year highly successful career as a sales and business development executive in the storage networking industry in Silicon Valley enables her to interface effectively with other executive level clients. “Real estate, like hi-tech, is all about focusing on a solution.” Her earlier career with the State of California as a labor neutral also sharpened her negotiation skills which she uses to help clients achieve a win-win transaction. “I don’t take no for an answer; that’s what makes me successful as a negotiator – there is always a solution when you listen and then think outside of the box.”

74

In addition to enjoying working with clients, Barbara stays involved in her local community and professional organizations. She has served two terms on the Tucson Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors and is a supporter of the Stone Canyon Community Foundation which provides grants to local non-profits focused on helping Tucson’s kids. She is also a member of the Associated Realty of the Americas (AREA). “We are a select group of real estate professionals active in our local, state or national organizations whose goal is to improve our profession through leadership.”

Barbara is focused on continuing to provide the highest level of service to all clients. When asked about her advice for agents who are just starting out in the business, she suggests selecting something on which to be an expert. “I focus on a particular market and I don’t try to be everything to everybody. Agents should pick an area or specialization that they love and focus on it.

If you focus on what you love, you’ll do it well, and if you do it well you may love it even more!”

To learn more about Barbara Bardach please call (520) 275–3867, email barbara@bardach.net, visit BarbaraBardach.com www.

Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

5 Morning Habits to Make Your Day Super Productive For many, most mornings begin with a rush—a rush to get dressed, a rush to find something edible for breakfast, a rush out the door and into rush hour. Likely you have heard articles advising you to set your

alarm early to give yourself some flexibility —which is sound advice, of course—but consider a few of these additional tweaks to your morning routine that can set a productive tone for your day at large.

1. Keep Screens Away Until Breakfast Oftentimes, our first instinct upon waking is to check-in on our phones, tablets, or computers, to scope out the latest social media updates and e-mail correspondence. While diving into the action might seem productive, studies show that waylaying screen time until you’re up and dressed, and have had a good breakfast, will actually make your first pass Top Agent Magazine

at all things digital more focused, clear, and efficient. Instead of answering a few e-mails, checking out a friend’s photos, and then hurrying to shower and dress, instead make a resolution to keep the online world at bay for the first half-hour to an hour after you rise, then you’ll approach the digital world with fresh eyes, energy, and adeptness.

Top Agent Magazine

75

2. Meal Prep Sometimes hitting the snooze button is inevitable, but if you make prepping breakfast the night before a part of your routine, then grabbing something healthy on the go will be a snap—and your stomach will thank you for it. Load up your coffee machine ahead of time, so all you have to do

is hit brew. Or, chop up a fruit salad, mix a smoothie, or simply put a granola bar and a grapefruit in your lunch bag, ready to be grabbed on your way out the door. Even if it’s small or basic, keeping yourself fueled will keep distractions, inefficiency, and mood swings at bay.

3. Queue Up a Podcast on Your Commute Whether you’re driving, biking, or taking public transportation into the office, a podcast is a perfect way to brush up on industry knowledge. Try sourcing a podcast relative to your field and narrated by experts.

Not only will it get you thinking about the topics of your industry—while expanding

your professional vocabulary—it will also wake up your brain and get your head in the game as you prepare to launch your day. Use your commute time to bump up your knowledge and conversation points, and you’ll be ahead of the curve before you reach the office.

4. Begin with a To-Do List When work gets busy, sometimes just getting started is an overwhelming prospect.

Before you dive in to your e-mails and projects, take twenty minutes and be thoughtful as you assess your daily and weekly to-do

list items, then map them. By giving yourself a bullet point system of what you need to accomplish and by when, you can undo some of the anxiety that a busy schedule promotes.

5. Walk It Out, Even If You Missed the Gym While we often rely on coffee for our morning buzz, exercise provides a potent burst of energy that can supercharge your day. But, let’s say you’re running behind and skip the gym—all is not lost! Take fifteen minutes in

the early morning to take a walk around the block a few times. The fresh air and aerobic exercise will wake you up, get your blood moving, and provide your morning with a natural injection of motivation.

Everyone’s morning routine varies, but perhaps the first step is identifying aspects of your routine that could be improved, and tackling them from there. From waylaying

screen time distractions to getting in a little blood-pumping exercise, keep these tips in mind as you launch your most productive morning routine ever.

76

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

CARMEN JIMENEZ For Carmen Jimenez, entering the real estate industry was a serendipitous moment. “I was doing a lot of community outreach, volunteering in the Spanish community, and helping translate,” she explains. ONE of those things ended up being real estate transactions, and Carmen soon found she had an interest in the field. In 2007, she earned her license and hit the ground running. Based in Kingman, Arizona and serving Mohave County, the vast majority of her business consists of repeat clients and referrals, a testament to her high level of service and communication skills.

“I think one of the reasons people come back to me is because I provide quality service to them,” she explains. “It’s my number one priority. Helping my buyers and sellers understand the process, from the moment we meet until the day that we either hand over the keys or help the sellers load up the last of the furniture in the moving van. It’s really important to me that they know I am there for them every step of the way.” Whether she’s assisting first time home buyers with their 1st home, or negotiating the sale of their investment, all clients can expect to receive guidance, support and advice from Carmen.

Understanding that this is one of the largest purchases or sales they will make in their lifetime, Carmen educates her clients as much as possible so they can make sound decisions. “In the end, it’s not about me, it’s about them. So I really listen to their WANTS and NEEDS, I give them my undivided attention.”

Carmen also expresses, “I owe much of my success

to my amazing office assistant, who is also my daughter, Suzy.”

After the transaction is over, buyers and sellers leave glowing reviews about their time together. One recently said, “Carmen’s expertise and wealth of resources made my home buying process a breeze. Her personal attention to me and my needs made me feel at ease. Carmen was always quick to respond to all of my many questions and never made me feel silly for asking anything.

Her infectious smile and bubbly personality is just a bonus to her knowledge and professionalism.

Carmen is an excellent REALTOR® and I would use her again. I recommend her to anyone looking to sell or purchase a home.”

Carmen is currently the President Elect for the Kingman Golden Valley Association of REALTORS®.

During her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her grandchildren. She loves her coffee, and she enjoys her plants and flowers.

Looking ahead, Carmen plans to focus on helping her agents excel in their business. Currently, she is the Branch Manager of Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Kingman office. “My goal for 2021 is to mentor the agents and help them achieve that ONE extra transaction.” Wherever her path leads, she’s no doubt going to enjoy every minute of it. “This career is so fulfilling, it’s a blessing to help people with their real estate needs and build so many relationships along the way.”

For more information about Carmen Jimenez, please call 928-727-3356 or email carmensells928@gmail.com Top Agent Magazine

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 77

CHRIS SCHUMAKER While living in Pasadena, Chris Schumaker loved the Realtor who helped her buy her home. When it came time to sell, she looked for that Realtor, but it turned out she had already left the business.

In lieu of finding another Realtor, Chris decided to get her license and sell her house on her own.

She has since then grown an impressive career in Maryland, and built a reputation as a Realtor who gets results in an efficient manner and who genuinely cares about her clients.

With 28 years in the business, Chris has the experience and know-how necessary to tackle any challenge that real estate can throw at her. She is a committed problem solver with laser focus who is attentive to her clients and thorough when it comes to meeting their needs.

Chris is well-versed in dealing with new construction and offers service in the competitive luxury waterfront market, but that’s not all! From short sales to creative financing to investing, Chris brings everything to the table, and she knows how to use the cutting-edge technology real estate has to offer for communication and marketing. She takes pride in being adaptable to rapidly changing market conditions and possessing an extensive knowledge of the Chesapeake Bay region while consistently relaying information promptly and clearly to her clients.

One of Chris’s biggest assets as an agent is her dedication to her clients’ needs. The first thing she does with a new client is try and pinpoint what specifically they are looking to accomplish in the long run. She then makes herself available for her clients

at all times, always providing quick replies and answering her phone. “I try to help my clients to the best of my ability. Through honesty and dedication, I make sure clients aren’t ever left in the dark,” Chris says. “My goal is to make every client a happy client.”

Chris gets all of her business from repeat clients, and it’s easy to see why her they love her personal, compassionate approach.

Chris finds it important to bring as much as value as possible to the clients she works with. She goes above and beyond the call of duty to help overcome any obstacle that comes up, and works around the clock to navigate the nitty gritty details of each transaction. Her listings look pristine, as she offers 3D video tours and professional photography to bring out the full potential in each home. Chris considers herself an advocate for her buyers and sellers, knows intimately the details of real estate negotiation, and carries herself with poise and enthusiasm. After closing 31 transactions in 2020, she hopes to continue to grow her business well into the future and to continue offer the highest quality of real estate service in the Chesapeake Bay Area.

In her free time, Chris loves boating and biking in the summer and spending time with her family and two dogs. She is very active in her community, working with organizations such as Adopt-A-Bear, Toys for Tots, Harvest for the Hungry, and others. If you or someone you know is interested in the best real estate service Maryland has to offer, look no further than Chris Schumaker!

Contact Chris at (410) 739 7596, email chrisschumaker1@gmail.com, or visit homesnap.com/Christine-Schumaker for more information www.

78

Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

5 Simple Mindset Shifts That Will Help You Achieve Your Goals

Everyone knows that a positive attitude is one of the key steps to achieving success. It’s very easy to let negativity bring you down and oftentimes, people end up quitting at the first set back. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a negative person, you’re probably doing numerous things you don’t even realize are holding you back.

Recognizing these negative mindsets, and then implementing simple mindset shifts, are sure to help you not only create a more positive outlook, but a more successful outcome to whatever goal you’re trying to achieve.

Top Agent Magazine

1

Turn jealousy into admiration

It’s very easy to look at someone who has what you want, and feel envious, which quickly turns into criticism and excuses about why you weren’t able to get what they seemed to get with ease. This is something successful people never do. Instead, they recognize that the only thing keeping them from success is themselves.

If you want what someone else has, you should look to them as a role model. What

Top Agent Magazine

79

are they doing that you aren’t? There’s probably more to their story than you’re giving them credit for. Someone else’s success doesn’t hinder your ability to do the same, but constantly having a ‘life’s not fair’ attitude definitely will.

2

Tackle the things you dread doing first

We all procrastinate to some extent. Usually it’s things we don’t want to do. But when you put something like that off, it creates a serious cloud over your whole day.

Experts recommend getting those things out of the way first. Not only do get it crossed off your list, but you will feel energized by your accomplishments and tackle the day with even more force.

3

Don’t make decisions based on emotion

Reaching goals, especially long term ones, can have a lot of ups and downs. The key to achieving them is to stay level-headed during setbacks, really focusing on your plan and how the setback fits into your long term vision.

If you have a solid plan in place, you could be destroying months of hard work with one rash emotional decision, that is probably coming from a place of panic.

When you’re feeling emotional...wait.

It really is that simple. Wait it out until 80

you’re back in a rational state of mind and take it from there.

4

Learn to love feedback

It’s very easy to be thrown off by negative feedback or constructive criticism. No one likes it. But when it comes to achieving your goals, you need to be able to hear it, assess it and then make an unemotional decision about what it means to you and your success.

In fact the business world’s most successful leaders are there because they not only take in that feedback, they actually constantly ask for it. Fresh perspectives on what you’re doing are always valuable. When you’re in the thick of it, it can be hard to see what needs improvement. Asking a trusted peer or advisor can be instrumental in keeping the momentum on reaching your goal going.

5

Replace a fixed mindset with a growth mindset

You might be wondering what the difference between the two are. A fixed mindset thinks that growing intelligence or skills is impossible, while a growth mindset thinks those things can be developed.

People with a growth mindset are more likely to expand beyond their comfort zone, since they really believe almost anything is possible with hard work. And if it isn’t?

They’re willing to give it a try. Being willing to try and fail, is a key element to reaching even the most lofty goals.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

ERIC TAM Eric Tam’s entry into selling residential real estate began with a loss.

“I was in commercial real estate for a short time. When my grandfather got sick, I was the only one with a schedule flexible enough to give him the care he needed, so I took care of him for a year and a half. When he passed, I needed to go back to work full time, and my dad suggested getting into the residential side of the market.”

And a little something extra — call it a competitive streak, maybe. “Back in the day, I used to be a street racer,” Eric laughs. “Now, I love the transaction, and getting a win for my client.” But he’s quick to point out that a win isn’t just about finding the best price. It’s also about steering people clear of market traps. “Part of my job is to keep clients safe, helping them avoid a bad investment.”

The experience with his grandfather reinforced Eric’s natural disposition. “I love helping people,” he explains.

“I like to see my clients happy. It’s very rewarding to be able to see them get what they want and begin living their best lives. A home is the biggest purchase most of them will make, and it can be such a difficult process.

People are looking to their realtor for guidance.”

If he’s not working, Eric is probably in the kitchen.

“I love to cook. I cook breakfast for my kids every morning and dinner for them every night.” When he takes a vacation, the family always travels. “I want my children to see as much of the world as they can.”

Those looking to purchase property in Boston, Brookline, or Newton couldn’t ask for a better guide.

Eric grew up in the suburbs, and has lived in the city now for many years. “I know Boston very well. Also, I think I have a good understanding of what people are looking for at different stages of their lives, whether they‘re new to the city and need the easiest commute, or are looking for a good neighborhood to raise their kids, or are empty nesters pursuing a new adventure now that the kids are gone. I even represent some international clients who want to purchase investment properties.” With a degree in marketing and sales from Babson College, and fifteen years of experience, Eric brings substantial negotiating skills to bear on his clients’ behalf.

Top Agent Magazine

That unique skill set is perhaps why most of Eric’s business now comes through referrals and repeat clients as he’s risen to become a top producer for Compass.

Getting there was by no means easy, though. “I started in real estate the year the market crashed. That first year I made very little. But I didn’t focus on the numbers. I just worked. And that’s how I do it to this day. I work every day. My family has always worked hard.”

To learn more about Eric, please call 617-803-5683, email tam@compass.com. You can also check out some of his prime listings at 289tappan.com, Westbournetownhomes.com, Flatsongreenough.com, Flatsonwashington.com and 23Winslow.com http://

www.

www.

www.

www.

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 81

EUGENE KHUTORYANSKIY With a desire to help others and an interest in real estate, Eugene Khutoryanskiy followed his instincts and became an agent. It was one of the best decisions he’s ever made. “After a few years in the healthcare field I gradually worked my way up to full-time within the span of a year, and I haven’t looked back since,” he says. “After a few months, I knew this was the career path for me because I felt so much joy helping everyone make their real estate decisions and becoming a part of their lives.” Today he works with Homes R US Realty of NY, with two associate brokers and many other successful agents.

Serving Staten Island, a growing portion of his business consists of referrals, a testament to his superior service and thorough communication.

manner of questions pertaining to both the house buying process, and the actual house itself. This was invaluable to both me and my wife as first time home buyers, and helped make the whole process smooth and easy. We also appreciated the team that he recommended, because it genuinely felt as if everyone was on the same page and had our best interest in mind. I’d wholeheartedly recommend him to family and friends and definitely plan on going back to him in the future.”

“It’s my honesty that sets me apart,” he says. “And I am always punctual. I always have the motivation to work on any given project, and I try to be consistent as much as possible. I’m not afraid to make the first step, whether it’s prospecting or searching for that ideal property for my clients.” Everyone he works with gets the same amazing support, no matter the price point.

For his sellers, he takes the time to advise the best listing price and addresses any questions or concerns that his clients have, prior to going on the market. He then goes above and beyond for marketing, advertising the property on social media and real estate websites.

Once offers are received, he presents them to the sellers and explains which one he would choose and why.

Meanwhile, he listens intently to his buyer’s needs and doesn’t stop searching until that perfect home is found.

After the transaction, Eugene stays in touch, sending out holiday and birthday cards and checks in every couple of months to catch up.

But much of Eugene’s time is spent planning for the future and working with clients. Looking ahead, he hopes to one day have his own team and earn his broker’s license. He’ll do everything possible to assist more people in their real estate journey, as it is his favorite part about what he does. “It’s the biggest financial investment of a person’s life. So just to be part of that process is extremely rewarding.”

Buyers and sellers love to spread the word about his work. One recently said, “Closed on a house just two months after we started our search, all thanks to Eugene. He was very responsive and helpful with all 82

When Eugene isn’t working, he’s staying physically active by going to the gym, biking or taking walks on the boardwalk. “I also like spending time with family and friends, cooking and baking.”

For more about Eugene Khutoryanskiy please call 917-831-0129 or email eugenek.realestate@gmail.com Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

5

SOCIAL MEDIA MISTAKES

Real Estate Agents Must Avoid There is perhaps no greater marketing tool for agents these days than having a large presence on social media, but there is more to social media marketing than just opening an account and gaining followers. A lot of agents forget the social part of social media. It’s all about engagement, but it needs to be the right kind of engagement. This can often be the first impression potential clients or industry peers have of you, so make it count. There is no second chance to make a first impression, and that is especially true for real estate agents. Here’s just a few things you want to avoid.

Top Agent Magazine

83 Top Agent Magazine

1 Using it to Vent

Social Media is a great place to complain and commiserate about things, but save that for your personal page. A real estate transaction is already a stressful ordeal, the last thing anyone wants is someone who seems like they’ll bring a negative energy to the process. Even worse?

Bad mouthing other Realtors® or listings. You’re selling yourself and your skills, so don’t sell anything that shows you in a bad light. Much like marketing a property, everything you put out should be professional and inviting.

2

Lack of Consistent Branding

Yes, social media is about social engagement, but it’s also about creating brand recognition. While you don’t want it to be purely promotional, you are running a business, so create a consistent branding across all social media platforms. If you can afford a professional graphic designer to help you out with this, that’s great. But at the very least, have the same profile pic, cover image and highly visible contact information, across the board. And don’t forget to share links to your other accounts, some people prefer different social media applications.

3Not Posting Enough

It’s good to create a schedule of how many times you’ll be posting per day and to pick times when you might have the most engagement.

Don’t over do it, but three posts a day at the right time, tends to be a good goal. There are numerous tools on Facebook, for example, that

can let you see when interactions are the highest.

Stick to your schedule and adjust accordingly.

It’s also important to not just post your listings.

Be a resource for people who follow your page.

Post community events, or other informative articles that are relevant to home ownership.

Be a page they want to follow even when they aren’t buying or selling a property. They’ll remember you when the time comes.

4

Not interacting With Your Followers

It’s called social media for a reason. The more you engage with your followers, the more they see you as a real person, and not just a marketing tool. Not only do you get to know your past clients and potential clients, on Facebook, engagement actually will make your posts seen by more people. So it’s a win/win.

5

Not Sharing or Linking to Others

It might not seem like a good idea to not promote the blogs, pages or listings of other people, but it’s not only an excellent way to build goodwill, it will also increase your own presence when they reciprocate. So make a point to share posts and links for local businesses and even the blogs of your peers, if it’s a post that offers valuable insight into an expertise you don’t have. That will encourage them to share your posts and even your listings, which will increase your potential buyer pool. This is another incentive to create your own blog. Unique informative content is always of value, and more likely to be shared than promotional links.

84

Top Agent Magazine Top Agent Magazine

HEATHER SPADOLA “When I work with someone, I make sure they have an amazing experience,” Heather Spadola explains, while discussing her career in real estate. She decided, after having worked several positions dealing closely with residential contractors and homeowners, to pursue a career in real estate where Heather has drawn on that experience. “I knew I had the necessary skills in order to be successful, as I’ve always had a love for real estate and I have great communication and people skills,” she says. Her hunch was right, as she has truly flourished as an agent serving Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.

Currently she works at RE/MAX Home Team in Uncasville, where a growing portion of her business consists of referrals. Heather credits her quick growth in this industry to her superior service and dedication.

“I’m really down-to-Earth, so people feel comfortable around me, and I become friends with many of my clients after we work together,” she explains.

Throughout the transaction, she guides her clients, making sure they understand every aspect of what is happening. Whether they’re a first-time home buyer or a seasoned investor, she listens intently to her clients’ needs so she can determine how she can achieve their goals. For her buyers, this includes mapping out their needs and determining a price point. In this currently bustling market, she ensures their offers are strong and competitive. “In 2021, sellers are getting multiple offers above asking price on their house within the first couple of days of going on the market, so I am happy that I’ve been able to have success with getting my buyers’ offers accepted.” Meanwhile, her

sellers receive state-of-the-art marketing such as drone video, professional photography, listing websites, and social media. This allows Heather to maximize the sale price in the shortest amount of time.

After the transaction, clients leave glowing reviews about their time together. One recently said, “Heather is a wonderful agent. She is extremely professional, hardworking, and easy to get in contact with. She always answered my calls and texts, no matter how big or small the question/concern was. She fought for us as buyers in a very hard market and got us the very first house that we put an offer on! In this market, that is so hard to do. She was always on top of any paperwork or things that we needed to have done both as buyers and sellers. Don’t hesitate to use Heather as your agent.”

When Heather isn’t working, she’s giving back to the community through events and charities. She is a member of the Killingly Business Association and helps plan various events throughout the year with them. During any free time, she’s enjoying the company of family and friends or cultivating her photography and gardening hobbies.

Looking ahead, Heather has her sights set on continuous growth. She is dedicated to real estate and being available to help buyers and sellers connect for years to come. “I love working with my clients, it is so rewarding to see them happy at the end of it all, it’s a great feeling to know I can help them achieve their real estate dreams.”

For more information about Heather Spadola, please call 860-786-8080 or email homes@heatherspadola.com Top Agent Magazine

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 85

JACKIE BARTHEL “We have a really good opportunity to be able to give back to the people we see on a daily basis,” says Jackie Barthel, lead REALTOR® with Jackie B Realty Group out of Realty ONE Group Choice, describing her favorite part of her job. “I always say that we live, work, and play in the communities that we serve. We use our platform to help those around us, and we gain by giving.

We’re not the big-pressure salespeople. For us, it’s really coming from a desire to help.”

Jackie has worked in real estate for the past sixteen years. “We had bought and sold numerous times, and we wanted to bring a superior customer service to those we care about,” she says. “Real estate sounded like a great fit for me, and I was really interested in it, so I decided to get my license.”

Jackie heads up a small team comprised of herself, her husband, Anthony, and Shelbie, their Director of Client Relations. All three are fully licensed. Together, they service Anoka County, Sherburne County, Hennepin County, and Ramsey County. However, they don’t restrict themselves. “We do a lot of referral business, and so that brings us everywhere,” Jackie says. “We’ll go anywhere.”

Nearly all of Jackie’s business comes from repeat and referral clients. She credits her high level of service with their loyalty. “We genuinely care about and get really close with our clients on a personal level,” Jackie explains. “We are constantly checking in to see how life is going, when they have babies, get married, or any other life events.”

support, or our community that they live and take part in.”

Jackie and her team are active community members. “We’ve really become an advocate for things that happen here,” she says.

The Jackie B Realty Group sponsors sporting events and activities like the local Royal Ambassador Program, and they promote events happening in the neighborhoods where their clients live. Starting last year, they rallied local businesses to provide high school seniors with yard signs. They also host the Women in Business Vendor and Craft Fair each year. “We had this idea to help build up their business by empowering them to get the word out and make connections with other women,” Jackie explains. These women help provide an annual scholarship to a high school graduate from the area who plans to major in business. She and her team also send out a monthly newspaper featuring local small businesses to over seven hundred families.

Outside of work, though she’s often working, Jackie loves to spend time with her three sons. “They keep me busy!” she says, laughing. Her sons are involved in several school activities, and Jackie enjoys taking part in that. They also love to travel, particularly to the family’s cabin up north.

Each month, Jackie and her team send an item of value to their past clients. These items are always personalized.

This might include tips on home repairs, local sports schedules, or a seasonal newsletter with things to do.

They often stop over with a little customized treat or to host a community client get together.

“We really try hard to build that authentic lifelong relationship from a place of giving back,” Jackie says, “whether that be to the client, their family, a cause they 86

For more about Jackie Barthel and the Jackie B Realty Group, call 612-382-6424, email jackie@jackiebrealtygroup.com, or visit JackieBRealtyGroup.com www.

Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

Thinking of Listing?

Nine Ways to Get Ready The less time a home spends on the market, the more likely it is to sell at or above list price. That’s why our Top Agents recommend getting a property ready for marketing well before listing. Anyone who is even just starting to think about listing will benefit from some basic upkeep and pre-staging work. Even if you decide now is not the time to list, you’ll enjoy these simple improvements around the home.

With the right local resources, most pre-listing preparations take less than a week and will make the formal staging process simpler for all involved.

Ask Top Agents in your area for referrals of local pros to hire. Once you’ve selected your Top Agent, keep yourself open to his or her opinion on other TLC to help decrease your home’s market time.

1. Inspection: The last thing a seller or buyer wants is a surprise at

inspection. That’s why a complete inspection before listing is so valuable.

Many necessary fixes, such as minor roof or appliance repairs, can be discovered and repaired in less than a week. If inspection uncovers a major issue, any Top Agent will tell you that this knowledge is power; disclosing and expecting to take responsibility will increase buyers’ trust without affecting market time.

2. De-Clutter: Take a little time to pack away surplus furniture items and

extra knick-knacks, papers, books or occasional-use items throughout your house. Remember this may require boxing away video game supplies or packing up comfy throw pillows and blankets. Move these items temporarily into closets, the garage or attic with the assumption of possibly renting a storage unit just before listing.

3. Paint: Whole-house painting is likely not necessary, but consider touching

up baseboard moldings and doorways and open wall spaces in high-use areas Top Agent Magazine

87

such as bathrooms, the office, family room and indoor recreation spaces.

Also consider a little varnish on the front door or banister.

4. Artwork and Decor: Take a neutral look at your décor. Better yet, ask a

Top Agent to do so. Buyers should be able to picture themselves living in your home. While your Top Agent may not advise you to appear generic, you’ll likely need to thin out any shrine-like displays to family, hobbies or cultural interests.

5. Deep-Clean Housekeeping: After you’ve de-cluttered and touched up

the paint, request a deep cleaning from your housekeeping service and weekly cleanings thereafter. Make sure they pay attention to details like dusting or vacuuming window treatments and lampshades or wiping smudges off door jams and baseboard moldings.

6. Carpets and Rugs: Bring in the pros, but don’t just clean the carpets.

Because the cleaners will be moving furniture anyway, ask them stretch and tighten any buckled areas of carpeting. Doing so now saves the trouble of having to credit your buyer for this following final walk-through. Also consider removing small area rugs to let the beauty of your hardwood floors shine.

7. Look at the Loo: Buyers may not notice a brand-new toilet seat, but they

will turn up their noses at the one with the broken hinges. Freshly replaced toilet seats, faucets or doorknobs in heavily trafficked bathrooms can go a long way in first impressions.

8. “Mow & Blow”: Consider buyers as guests you want to feel welcome

as they ascend the front walk. If you don’t already have one, hire a weekly gardening service to keep up with the mowing, weeding, pruning and basic maintenance outside so you can focus on other things.

9. Staging: Once you’ve selected a staging professional for the finishing

touches, ask them and your Top Agent for final recommendations on day-today upkeep, storage options and what-to-do (or what not to do) while your house is on the market.

88

Top Agent Magazine

JAKE TASHARSKI Jake Tasharski has built a thriving real estate business on the philosophy of providing every client with bespoke service that centers education and empowerment.

Ten years ago, Jake started his real estate journey by focusing on high-end rentals, though his passion for the industry began at an early age. “When I was a teenager, I toured over 100 homes with my mom before she found the one,” Jake says, “and that experience kick-started my love for real estate. I became obsessed with the journey and rewards associated with home buying. I love architecture and design, and I believe our homes are an integral part of our lifestyle. I love helping my clients along their journey to grow and live better. That’s what keeps me going.” Jake finds great fulfillment from his career. “I value the people and how they’ve enriched my life and given me a sense of purpose in helping and serving others,” Jake says.

Now a Team Leader with Compass in Chicago, Illinois, Jake manages a small group of dedicated professionals.

With a newly hired Buyer’s Agent, along with a commitment to high-caliber customer service, Team JT is well-poised to serve a diverse array of clients, from luxury renters, to first-time buyers, to sellers, and more. Jake has been recognized as a Top Producer by the Chicago Association of Realtors three years in a row, and was named by Expertise.com as one of the top twenty Realtors® in Chicago in 2020.

Ambitious, detail-oriented, and attentive, Jake and his team prioritize client relationships. Around 80% of Jake’s business stems from repeat clients and referrals, a testament to his personable and conscientious approach. “We build relationships,” Jake says. “We’re here to listen and to advocate for our people as their lives change and their growing families take them in

new directions. We’re always here for our clients when they need us without being pushy salespeople. We understand that the process is unique for every client, so we ask a lot of questions to better serve their specific needs and goals. For us, it is less transactional and more about exploring and embracing each client’s unique dynamic.”

With their focus on relationships, Jake and his team make sure to stay in touch with clients through hand-written notes, thoughtful gifts, and appreciation parties. To market their listings, Jake and his team leverage the technological tools available through Compass, prioritizing stunning visuals. With professional photography, videos, and 3D walk-throughs, every client receives broad visibility across social media and other digital platforms. Their strategy has proven results: last year, they completed 18 million in sales across thirty-five transactions.

Committed to giving back, Jake has supported Habitat for Humanity, and served as Chair on the Young Professionals Network Board through the Chicago Association of Realtors. While it is rare for Jake to not be working, when he does take time for himself, he loves to be in nature, bike, travel, and host friends for game or craft nights.

Jake is excited about the future and what it holds.

“I love my team dynamic and plan to keep it tightknit. Moving forward, I will focus on bringing more awareness to sustainability and green building practices, helping to educate buyers as they navigate a rapidly advancing industry. It is important that we keep the boutique style and feel of the business, so we can provide that personal connection to every client, supporting them through their future journeys and whatever life has in store.”

For more information about Jake Tasharski, call 312-646-0284, email jake.tasharski@compass.com or visit jaketasharski.com www.

Top Agent Magazine

89

KATE MIKHAYLOVA Ekaterina (Kate) Mikhaylova worked for over twenty years in corporate finance at the World Bank before she turned to real estate. “I reached a career mid-point where I wanted a change,” Kate says. Passionate about renovation and remodeling, Kate had fallen in love with real estate long before she turned it into a successful career. With a degree in finance and a professional background in complex financial negotiation and deal-brokering, Kate is perfectly poised to offer her clients far more than the average real estate agent.

care of their transaction, I can advise them financially and make their property shine without them spending time on it.”

For Kate, staying in touch with past clients comes naturally. “Before Covid, I would do weekly happy hours,” Kate says. “I love to gather with people, including past clients, who do become friends.” To market her listings, Kate uses every tool at her disposal provided by her brokerage and her affiliations, including digital and social media advertising. Kate also offers her clients visibility on her own social media pages, spreading the word about their homes to attract competitive offers.

In her second full year in business, Kate has already built a thriving business based on the ethos of quality over quantity. “My goal is to give every client very high quality service,” Kate says. “I’m not in this to have huge volume. I would rather be the best agent than have the most transactions.” A solo Realtor at Long & Foster Bethesda Gateway Realty, Kate serves the Washington DC area, along with Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Kate finds fulfillment from working with people and from the variety real estate provides. “I love people,” Kate says. “This job is very social, which suits me. I also love how every transaction is very different. Houses are complicated, and I love learning new things.”

Even though Kate is not a veteran realtor yet, the majority of her business is already stemming from repeat clients and referrals, which is a testament to the care and attention Kate shows to each of her clients. “I’m developing my business to be very personal,” Kate says. “I had a busy year, which means I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing.”

Dedicated to the community, both domestically and abroad, Kate is an active philanthropist, especially when it comes to relief efforts following environmental disasters. “From my former life, I have lots of friends all over the world,” Kate says. “I love staying involved with causes across the globe.” Kate loves to cook for friends and family. With twin kids who are freshmen in college, Kate says, “I’m blessed with kids who are great eaters.”

Kate is proud to offer her clients not only excellent counseling on buying and selling a home, but also to provide her financial expertise, as well as her extensive knowledge about home renovation. “For half of my clients, I have also worked as their general contractor,” Kate says.

“I supervise the remodeling work so my clients don’t have to do anything. My clients get more value for their money working with me, because in addition to taking

For the future, Kate plans to continue to grow with intention, keeping client service at the center of her business. Dedicated to her own growth, she also plans to pursue certifications, including staging and interior design. “I want to gain skills that will be most helpful to my clients,” Kate says. “I see myself happily doing this for as long as I can.”

To find out more about Kate Mikhaylova, you can contact her by phone at 703-869-2634 or by email at KateMi@LNF.com or Ekaterina.Mikhaylova@longandfoster.com.

You can also check her out online at longandfoster.com/EkaterinaMikhaylova www.

90

Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

6 Habits of Highly Productive Agents In a business that can be constant chaos, you’re constantly on the go and dealing with things as they hit you. It can be difficult to take a second and regroup. But there is a better and smarter way to work. If you take the time to create some better habits, in the end, you may end up being more productive. If you want to make better use of your time, as well as have more focus, here’s some habits that you’re going to want to pick up - all common to top-producing agents.

1. Learn how to prioritize Although it might be your instinct to get some of the boring work out of the way first, things Top Agent Magazine

that actually generate income (or are time-sensitive!) should be the first thing you focus on when you start your day.

Lists are your friend! Make a list of things you want to accomplish for the day, the week, and even the month. Always list them in the order of priority. If things get cut off when you run out of time at the end of the day, at least it’ll be the things that are not as important or time sensitive. As with anyone, your time is your most valuable commodity and should be used wisely. When you make your list, you can even schedule tasks as if they were a meeting, giving yourself a little time goal to beat, as 91

well. Treat your time with the same respect you would a colleague’s or client’s and don’t ever waste it.

As with anyone, your time is your most valuable commodity and should be used wisely. When you make your list you can even schedule tasks as if they were a meeting, giving yourself a little time goal to beat, as well. Treat your time with the same respect you would a colleague’s or client’s, and don’t ever waste it.

to accomplish it? Write it out and then incorporate that into your prioritized ‘to do’ list.

You’ll be amazed at how driven you become to reach that goal when you actually write it out with clarity. And, the sense of accomplishment you get upon completing it will carry over to the next day. It’s important to remember to be specific. Once you get into the habit of meeting your goals, exceeding them won’t be far behind.

2. Remove distractions

when you need to focus This is especially hard when you’re a Realtor®. Most are constantly connected to their phones. But, unnecessary distractions can get you off schedule and make you lose your focus instantly. If you can, turn your phone off for the half hour it takes to do a task. Interruptions make everything take twice as long, especially when you take that text and then decide to check Facebook for a second.

We all do it!

Complete your task, then take ten minutes to respond to all texts and messages before you start up the next thing on your list. You can even schedule those ‘text backs’ into your schedule. A concentrated effort is always more effective than going back and forth between things.

3. Set daily goals This is so key. What do you want to accomplish for the day and what do you need to do 92

4. Don’t make excuses There’s that old saying, “The buck stops here”. Well, take it to heart. This is your business and you are responsible for doing everything you can to make it successful.

Sure, there are reasons for why you didn’t get a listing or why your business is slow, but what are you doing to change things and make them better? Successful Realtors® work harder and come up with innovaTop Agent Magazine

tive ways to stand out when times are tough. They don’t look for excuses, they look for solutions.

5. Be deliberate

about everything you do When you’re making your list, it helps to have a goal in mind for even the smallest task. If you’re calling past clients to touch base, have a specific reason why you’re calling. Are you letting them know some market news?

Thanking them for a referral? When you’re meeting a referral partner for lunch, have a goal in mind for what the outcome of that meeting will be as well. Yes it’s good to socialize and build relationships, but if you have a reason, make sure it isn’t put off until the final moments, when things are wrapping up. Always having a purpose in mind will also help you prioritize your list better.

6. Always look for ways to

get out of your comfort zone Yes, you are prioritizing what is most important or urgent to your business, but it’s also important to make an effort to break out Top Agent Magazine

of your routine as much as you’re comfortable doing. Trying out new things or taking some time to learn about new and innovative real estate techniques and technology, can have an energizing effect on your business.

Not only might they lead to things that make you more productive, but it keeps you sharp and engaged. And, ultimately keeping yourself at the top of your game is what it’s all about.

93

LINDSEY REED Just half an hour’s drive from Louisiana’s beautiful Gulf Coast sits the city of Lafayette, with its diverse array of communities ranging from historic to modern and the quiet Bayou Vermilion meandering through it all. Nationally known for its fine cuisine, lively music, and year-round festivals, it’s the beating heart of the South’s Acadiana, where taking the time to savor the good stuff is a way of life. And if you’re looking to move to “America’s Happiest City” in search of your own joie de vivre, Lindsey Reed is the person you’re going to want to see.

“I’ve lived in Acadiana my whole life,” Lindsey explains. “I have roots in both the Lafayette and St. Landry Parishes, and I’ve been a Realtor here for 13 years now, so I know these homes and neighborhoods and people very well.”

Lindsey got her start in real estate when her husband happened to remark one day that she had the perfect personality for the business. “I’m definitely a social person and I love talking to people. I’m also very driven by the challenge of guiding people through what is likely the greatest financial decision they will make.

It’s super gratifying!”

Her clients describe Lindsey as a kind spirit who is knowledgeable, professional and patient. It’s no surprise then that her repeat client and referral rate is 90 percent. “I take a lot of time and effort on every detail,” she says. “I’m available any time of day, and I’m often getting phone calls from six in the morning all the way up to midnight. I care for my clients very much, so I’m happy to be there for them whenever. The best part of the job is when our offer has been accepted on that perfect home or when I’m able to tell a seller that we’ve had an offer well above their asking price.”

As a solo agent with District South Real Estate, Lindsey closed 80 transactions in 2020 for over sixteen million 94

in sales. When listing a property, she takes pains to create professional pictures that capture its most unique features, and will sometimes even do videography if the situation calls for it. She then markets the listing across all of the social media platforms, her MLS, and her sphere, as well as sending out direct mailer postcards to residents in the home’s local neighborhood.

All of Lindsey’s free time is spent with family. “I have two sweet girls, six and eleven, so when I’m not working I just want to hang with them and my husband.

I’m also very involved with fundraising efforts for their school and have been the PTO president for the last five years.

As for the future of her business, Lindsey wants to continue to grow while maintaining the excellent level of customer service people rave about. “I’m always looking for new ways to improve my clients’ experience, and keep earning their referrals. Beyond that, it’s about enjoying the work and having fun building relationships with the people I meet. I get a lot of joy from this work!”

If you’d like Lindsey’s help buying or selling a home, contact her at 337-303-3987 or email Lindsey@districtsouthre.com Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

6 Ways to Get Your Client to Trust You The word “REALTOR®” can leave a sour taste in some people’s mouths. Many of today’s home buyers and sellers grew up during the 2009 recession. They are wary of anything Top Agent Magazine

or anyone who comes off as too salesy, and they want to work with individuals who they can trust.

But how do you prove to someone you’ve likely never met that you can be trusted?

Top Agent Magazine ®

95

1

Put Testimonials or Case Studies on Your Website

When something goes wrong, own up to your mistakes. Don’t hide bad news from your clients. Be upfront and responsive.

Testimonials and case studies are social proof that you have both the experience and the skills to do the job your clients are hiring you for. People often leave testimonials when they are either incredibly disappointed or extremely happy with the service they were provided, so they’re a good indication to prospective clients of the treatment they’ll receive.

Case studies, which you can post on your blog or website, have much of the same effect, but even more than testimonials, case studies demonstrate your real estate and finance expertise because they explain how you achieved a specific set of results.

2

Be Responsive and Accessible

Can your clients reach you easily? That doesn’t mean you need to be available 24/7, but you should respond to your clients within a few hours of receiving their message. When agents don’t respond to their clients’ calls or emails for days on end or fail to provide them with a direct line of contact, their clients’ experience can quickly become frustrating.

Agents are busy but so are their clients. If you constantly show up late to or reschedule meetings, your clients won’t feel like their time is respected or their business is valued. Make sure you set a realistic schedule for yourself rather than spreading yourself too thin.

3

Be Honest and Transparent

Sometimes you don’t have the answer to a client’s question. Be honest about your strengths, weaknesses, and the limits of your knowledge. A good response might be, “I don’t know, but I can find out.” Be transparent with your clients, and they’ll respect you for it.

You should always act in their best interest.

96

4

Go the Extra Mile

If you do the bare minimum, that’s what your clients will remember. Their experience won’t be memorable, and they won’t gush about you in online testimonials or in real life to people they know who could use your services. It’s that simple.

5

Put Yourself in Your Client’s Shoes

Clients understand that you need to earn money, but that doesn’t mean they want to feel like they’re just a dollar sign to you. Be empathetic to your client’s concerns, even if you’ve heard it all before. Your clients should know that you are there for them.

6

Be Consistent

Being responsive, friendly, and knowledgeable shouldn’t be an act. If you “turn on” your personality for clients and then suddenly become a different person when they leave the room, it’s likely that the cracks in your mask will eventually become apparent.

But “faking it till you make it” is so common it’s become a cliché. When we are starting out, we don’t always have the systems or resources in place to create a smooth client journey, from onboarding to closing, so instead we constantly try to reinvent the wheel. Give yourself time to pause, slow down, and reevaluate your workflow. Creating systems creates

consistency, and those systems can and should be constantly updated.

Developing trust between you and your clients will take time, but doing these things can give you a running start.

Top Agent Magazine ®

Top Agent Magazine

LISA HORAN Combining her love of helping others with her passion for real estate, Lisa Horan has found her dream career as an agent in South Carolina and New Jersey. She got her start after working as a receptionist at a real estate brokerage. “I just started watching what all the agents were doing, and eventually I earned my license and began cold calling for a top producer.” This soon led to her being hired as his assistant, where she soaked up as much information as she could. It wasn’t long before she was confident enough to step out on her own. During her first year, she was awarded Rookie of the Year after selling 33 houses. “That was six years ago, and it’s grown every year since, now I’m averaging 60 homes a year.” It’s Lisa’s focus on relationships that sets her apart in the field, with clients continually spreading the word about her work.

“I think my key to success is just being authentic, I’m very real with my people and that tends to help me build solid, lasting friendships with them,” she says. After moving from Charleston, SC back to her home state of New Jersey, Lisa decided to maintain her presence in the southern state. “Some of my clients were worried when I left, but I told them I will fly back to help them, and I do,” she says. “I also have a partner who helps out if I can’t get a flight, and we do Zoom calls so they know I’m always there for them.” At the same time, she’s building her network in the Ocean and Monmouth County region of New Jersey. No matter who she is serving or where, buyers and sellers can expect thorough guidance and support, with no questions left unanswered. “I have my teacher’s license, so I enjoy teaching both my clients and other agents. I love being a go-to person whenever anyone has questions.”

After the transaction clients leave glowing reviews about their time together. One recently said, “Lisa was absolutely wonderful to work with! Her knowledge and expertise were invaluable in selling our home! She did a fantastic job arranging to take beautiful pictures of our home and assisted with getting maintenance done in preparation for sale. Thank you Lisa for everything!”

Top Agent Magazine

During any free time, Lisa is staying involved in the community through various organizations. She supports Lakeside Animal Rescue as Office Manager of 3 realty offices in SC. “We are running a fundraiser where we ask agents to bring in dog or cat food and other supplies, then we donate it to the rescue.”

Lisa also gives back to homeless shelters, soup kitchens, SC Ovarian Cancer Society, Toys for Tots, and is a member of the Brick Chamber of Commerce.

As Lisa looks ahead, she is eager to see where her path in New Jersey will lead. She just joined a new brokerage, Ruggeri Realty in NJ while still maintaining top agent status at AgentOwned realty in Charleston SC, and she can’t wait to help more clients. “I’m at the beach down the shore and excited to help New Jersey with all their real estate needs.”

For more information about Lisa Horan, please call 843-501-8856 or email lisa@ruggerirealty.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 97

LOGAN HALL “I’m up front. I always have my clients’ best interests in mind,” says Logan Hall, a top agent working out of Arizona. “They remember how I did a great job for them.

I also have a strong social media presence that encompasses how proficient I am as a REALTOR®, as a philanthropic member of my community, and how good of a dad I am. I really try to be more than just a good REALTOR®.”

Ranking in the top 1% of Century 21’s real estate agents worldwide, Logan loves bringing a personal touch to all of his transactions. “That’s the key to my success. I’m friendly, I stay relevant, and I keep myself at front of mind,” Logan says. He credits his integrity and personable attitude with the fact that over 80% of his business comes from repeat and referral clients.

Based out of the Phoenix metropolitan area, Logan has spent the past eighteen years servicing Maricopa County and northern Arizona. He’ll go wherever his clients want to be within the state. If it’s outside of his expertise, he’ll make sure they’re taken care of by referring them to someone in the local market.

When it comes to marketing his listings, Logan leaves no stone unturned. He loves hosting open houses and is the Open House King. He uses social media to drum up interest in his properties. “Before our market was so insane, I’d also do fliers and postcards,” Logan says. “But, right now, by the time those hit someone’s mailbox, the house is under contract or even sold! It’s a crazy market right now.”

Logan and his partners are currently developing an app to help agents navigate often-complex MLS’s. “It will

be an on-the-fly REALTOR® CRM database manager,” Logan explains. “It will connect to our local MLS to where you can build searches and request showings. It’s a cutting-edge tool we’re working on, and we’re close to making a full launch on it.”

When he isn’t going the extra mile for his clients or working as a mentor for his team of agents, Logan loves investing his time and resources back into his community.

He takes part in several philanthropic organizations. One, PCH50, is an organization for business leaders under the age of fifty which seeks to raise money to support Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Last year, they rallied together and raised over $500,000.

He also takes part in West Valley Mavericks, a young men’s group who raised over $1.2 million for charities focused on kids and veterans. Other organizations near to Logan’s heart include the Make a Wish Foundation, the Homeless Youth Connection, the Salvation Army, and St. Mary’s Foodbank.

Logan’s absolute favorite things to do outside of work is spend time with his family and work with his local church, where he currently serves as the president.

“My family and faith come first,” he says. He has three children—ages seven, five, and two—and Logan loves to hang out with them. “They and my wife are my everything,” he says.

Looking to the future, Logan is excited to continue growing and nurturing relationships with his clients.

“You don’t want to reinvent the wheel, but every now and then it’s good to put some air in the tires or change a spoke,” he says. “This is all about relationships. I teach all my new agents to make at least one new relationship every day and to grow one that you already have.”

To learn more about Logan Hall, call 602-908-2188, email logan@loganhallhomes.com, or visit loganhallhomes.com 98

Top Agent Magazine

7 Simple Tips that are Proven to Help You Stay Ahead of the Competition So you’ve created a successful business, congratulations! You probably did it by providing an unsurpassed level of customer service that not only meets customer expectations but exceeds them in a way that has made you stand out from the rest. As anyone can tell you, starting a successful business is not easy.

Now comes the even harder part. Not only sustaining that high level of performance, but continuing to grow and outpace the competition. There is no resting on your laurels in a competitive business market. Companies that stay successful for the longterm, make an active effort to keep on top. Here are just a few ways you can do the same.

Top Agent Magazine

1. Know the competition It’s not enough to know what you excel at or what makes you unique, you need to know what your competitors are offering that makes them stand out. This serves two purposes: it will allow you to more clearly define your differences, or it may help you identify an area that you hadn’t considered before, opening up a potentially new way in which you can excel above the rest.

2. Know your customers You might know your clientele very well, but as economic conditions change, so does your

Top Agent Magazine

99

customer’s needs. What might have been a priority a year ago, won’t be if we are in the midst of an economic downturn, for example.

As a business owner you should always be evaluating your strategies in every area constantly, knowing what your customer wants and needs from you is key. In fact you should be using your expertise to analyze potential market changes and anticipate those needs to stay ahead of the curve.

3. Have a strong understanding on what makes you unique Once you accomplish the first two, you should have a clear idea of what unique advantage you offer people. This needs to be clear to everyone, so you can then take that idea and run with it. Find your niche and then market yourself with a focus on that idea. If you have a clear thing you’re selling, it is well worth the investment to market yourself to the hilt with that in mind.

5. Think like your competitors One way your competitors looks to gain customers is by potentially taking yours. It goes without saying, you don’t want to let that happen. You’ve probably built great relationships, so really maintain those relationships by not only providing great service, but service that truly goes above and beyond. Find ways to give more to your customers. You might even want to start offering surveys, where your clients can tell you exactly what they’d like to see.This makes your clients not only feel heard, but blown away when you implement any changes they suggest.

6. Look for untapped markets Don’t settle for maintaining what you have, there could be untapped markets out there.

IF you don’t get to them, your competitors will. So even if they come eventually, hopefully you’ll already be the dominate force in that market.

4. Keep up to date

7. Be a great boss

This goes for everything from technology to systems, marketing, and even your own personal image. If you have a brick and mortar location, you want to also keep things looking fresh and modern there, as well. First impressions are important for a reason. Everything about your business should tie into your marketing and branding. What are you selling and does everything line up to support that, from your business cards to your social media pages. Remember the key to branding and marketing is a consistent message.

One of the best things you can do to keep ahead of the rest, is by being a company where top talent and motivated newcomers want to be. Be the company that offers more than a competitive paycheck. Be a place that fosters talent, and offers scheduling and compensations packages that appeal more to people who think outside of the box. This will attract more innovative thinkers who value flexibility. Not only will you benefit from their talents, more importantly, your competition won’t.

100

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

MICHAEL MILLER Michael Miller began his real estate career early on through investing. “I bought my first investment property when I was 18,” Michael recalls. “I was able to flip it and make a nice little income to go to college.

Ever since then, I’ve stuck with the flipping business.” When he moved to Charleston, Michael says, “I got tired of paying for Realtors® to do the work for me and decided to get my license so I could do it myself.” Now in his third year as a Realtor®, Michael has built on his background in investing to help other homebuyers and investors achieve their real estate goals.

In January of this year, Michael started his own team, The MVM Team at Realty One Group Coastal. He and his team serve all of Charleston, including the surrounding areas such as Johns Island, James Island, and even as far as Summerville. Over 90% of Michael’s business comes from repeat and referral clients, an impressive feat that speaks to the trust and confidence he and his team inspire.

When it comes to marketing listings, Michael uses both technology and connections in his network to ensure maximum exposure. He distributes marketing material through one of the preferred lenders he works with, as well as on Facebook and through Realty One’s marketing system that sends listings out to 1,200 different websites. The results speak for themselves: last year Michael did a volume of 33 transactions, for a total of over 9 million in sales.

When he is not working, Michael enjoys fishing and spending time outdoors with his wife and their three kids.

In the future, Michael plans to continue expanding his team to help more clients. “I’m also hoping to reach out to a lot of out-of-town people and get them to come to the Charleston market,” he says. “I love real estate, and I just want people to know that I’m genuine and not here to make a dollar, I’m just here to help them find their next home.”

“The biggest thing is making clients happy,” Michael says.

“I was rated as one of the top agents for RateMyAgent. com this year, and all of my clients have been super happy because I find them exactly what they want and I don’t push them in any direction. If they say they want to stay in their budget, I make sure we stay in their budget. If they want to stay in a certain area, we’ll keep on looking until we find what they want.”

Michael’s straightforwardness and solid, honest communication set him apart. “The biggest compliment I get is when clients tell me that they have talked to other Realtors® and ended up going with me because they feel that they can trust me,” he says. “I’m very straightforward. I don’t try to sell clients on anything, I just give them the facts.”

Michael loves working with first-time homebuyers. “This past year, half of my transactions were with first-time homebuyers,” he says. “I have a program to help them be aware of everything going on, including all the steps of the homebuying process so that they know what they need to be prepared for and what to expect.”

Top Agent Magazine

To find out more about Michael Miller, please call 814.241.1309, email michaelsellscharlestonsc@gmail.com, or visit michaelemiller.m.realtyonegroup.com http://

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 101

ROBYN BOOTH Robyn Booth began her real estate career as an assistant for a Milwaukee brokerage, where she had the opportunity to learn the industry from the ground up. There, she took an interest in realty, in particular for the ways in which it could allow her to empower those in her community. Two years after attaining her real estate license, however, she decided to elevate her work to the next level and launch her own team—and the rest is history.

Today, Robyn leads the Robyn Booth Group with the Badger Realty Team, where she assists clients throughout the Milwaukee Metro Area, as well as Madison and the surrounding counties. Offering a boutique experience at an affordable rate, she has the compassion, experience, and attention to detail needed to serve any buyer or seller.

“I believe in treating my clients as if they are my friends and family,” she says. “After all, they don’t handle real estate deals every day, and they don’t understand the business the way I do. Respecting that, I make sure they are taken care of each step of the way.”

When listing a home, Robyn offers her clients a personalized approach. After providing complimentary photography and cleaning services, she shares their property over a blend of targeted digital and social media campaigns. Her lavish open houses, set against twilight mixers or summer barbecues, are sure to generate plenty of additional buzz in the nearby neighborhoods. Elsewhere, Robyn is equally attentive when assisting her buyers, carefully guiding them to the right home for their best interests and offering special discounts to military, teachers, medical professionals, and those in law enforcement.

Through the years, Robyn has earned a fantastic reputation throughout Wisconsin, with the entirety of her volume coming from repeat clients and referrals.

Still, she is most focused on the joy of helping others.

“I love the reward of connecting someone with their 102

dream home. There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing a first time home buyer reach the closing table with tears in their eyes, so grateful they made it. Those are the moments that drive me each day.”

Outside her career, Robyn is tremendously active in her community. On top of providing regular donations to Running 4 Heroes, a non-profit organization that supports fallen first responders, she also works closely with the MPD Canine Foundation to host fundraising events for the Milwaukee K9 Unit. But she is just as devoted to her professional sphere, hosting a popular networking meetup for local Realtors®. When she’s not with clients or giving back, she can be found setting off on her latest adventure with her son.

Robyn has strong plans for the future. In the months ahead, she will be looking to open a third office, which would expand her team even further into the counties surrounding Milwaukee. Through it all, though, she will continue serving with the special mix of integrity and open communication that has anchored her reputation all throughout Wisconsin. “I call things the way I see it,” she says. “If I think a house is in poor shape, I’m going to tell the truth. I would rather a client work with me for two years and find the right home, than have them buy one that doesn’t meet their needs.”

To learn more about Robyn Booth email rbooth@badgerrealtyteam.com, visit badgerrealtyteam.com or call (608) 445-1500.

Top Agent Magazine

8

Things Successful People Never Do

There always seems to be people around you who find success with ease, but trust me, that is NOT the case. Although luck can often times play a role in someone’s success, most of the time it’s due to hard work and avoiding bad habits.

The best way to find your own success is to implement some of qualities you see in people you admire into your own life. The hard work part is still up to you, but by shifting your perspective a bit, and NOT doing some of the following

Top Agent Magazine

things, that success might happen a little quicker.

1

DON’T JUST WING IT

Successful people plan everything. Not only do they have yearly goals, but weekly and sometimes daily ones as well. By giving your time a purpose, and a clearly defined goal, you’ll eliminate the time you spend haphazardly doing things that might not be a priority. It will also make you feel less scattered, which is always a good thing.

Top Agent Magazine

103

2

THEY DON’T TAKE ON MORE THAN THEY CAN ACHIEVE

Successful people take on what they can do well, and no more. That all starts with a daily ‘do to’ list. They always make sure their list is manageable and then they don’t sleep until that list is completed. If you find yourself not finishing your list, assess whether it was too much or if you slacked off. You’ll be surprised at the feeling of accomplishment you feel when you finish your list. Not finishing will bring you down, so make sure you aren’t biting off more than you can chew.

3

THEY DON’T WORK HARDER, THEY WORK SMARTER

Yes, having a strong work ethic is key, but that doesn’t mean you should waste time on things that will have less of an impact on your success. Focus on the things that will give you the most bang for your buck. Better to spend the majority of your time there, than spread yourself thin on numerous tasks.

4

THEY DON’T TRY TO PLEASE EVERYONE

This might seem like a bad call in business, but successful people know when to cut your loses and move forward. Anything or anyone, that frustration into your life, is never a good thing.

5

REPEAT THE SAME MISTAKES

Similar to not trying to please everyone, successful people are also diligent about accepting when something isn’t working 104

and moving on from mistakes. Yes, you learn from them, but don’t repeat them. Part of being innovative is trying new things, that will keep you fresh and energized, but learning how to let go is an equally important part of the equation.

6

GO FOR THE SHORT RUN SOLUTION

Successful people are in it for the long haul and therefore thinking long term. When you have a plan for success and the patience to see it through, while you might have a slow start, you’re establishing a foundation for long term success. Going for the easy fix, usually doesn’t pay off.

7

PAY ATTENTION TO THE NAYSAYERS

Lets face it, we all have people in our lives who might be a little more pessimistic than is healthy to be around. You can’t change them, all you can do is not let them drag you down into their ‘glass half full’ mentality. Have your plans and goals, be confident about them. When you’re insecure, that’s when you’re most vulnerable to those types of people.

8

THEY NEVER QUIT

That doesn’t mean letting go of things that aren’t working. It means having an end goal.

Whatever obstacles or challenges come up, you take them on, always with that end goal in sight. Successful people know that adversity and overcoming those challenges, is how you grow, and will ultimately make you a better business person.

Top Agent Magazine

Top Agent Magazine

SAM BOATMAN At a young age, Sam Boatman was obsessed with homes. He grew up with family involved in the title industry and construction, and found that his familiarity with the process involved with buying and selling homes, coupled with his natural affinity for the lifestyle, led him to want a career in real estate later on in his life. After going to school for Business and working at an appraisal company for some time, Sam got licensed as a Realtor in 2017 and has been working hard to push his career into the limelight through a combination of excellent customer service and a tenacious work ethic.

A big reason for Sam’s success is his emphasis on consistent and personalized customer service. He works hard to ensure that each of his clients feels individually cared for. “I always try to meet my clients’ needs to the best of my ability,” he says.

“I look at each client as an individual, and I’m very hands-on with everything I do. My clients are my top priority!” Sam’s firsthand approach has earned him a lot of followers, as almost all of his business is referralbased, and his relationship-focused method of doing business has shown to be effective and efficient while maintaining an exceptional level of client satisfaction.

One major way that Sam provides a comfortable experience for his clients is by communicating clearly and directly to them at every turn. He is active on social media and available to contact by phone throughout the week, and gives thorough advice to each of clients based on their particular situation. “I don’t beat around the bush,” Sam says. “I’m honest with everyone I work

with and quick to respond. I try to make people feel comfortable with me.” Sam’s forthrightness is a quality that everyone wants in a Realtor, and it has made him a popular option in his community. Clients appreciate his directness – he receives 80% of his business through referrals from satisfied clients, an especially impressive number considering this is just his fourth year in the industry.

Due to his longtime familiarity with homes in general and his background in business and appraisal, Sam is a natural at negotiating contracts. He is an expert on market trends both nationally and locally in the Twin Cities, and he uses this knowledge to deftly navigate the intricacies of real estate when working with clients. Sam works hard to make each transaction go smoothly, and he has the experience necessary to get results for his clients quickly and efficiently every single time.

In his free time, Sam loves meeting new people and is very involved in his community. In the past, he has been part of several different groups around town, including Good Morning Stillwater and multiple Chambers. He is now on a Top Producing team, the Snyder team, which holds multiple client appreciation events each year. Sam is very active on social media and sets aside a lot of time to keep in touch with clients past and present. For the future of his business, Sam hopes to continue expanding his reach and growing his volume in the years to come. If you’re looking for high quality real estate service in Minnesota, get in touch with Sam Boatman today!

Contact Sam at (651) 497-1092, email sam@thesnyderteam.com, or visit samuelboatman.exprealty.com for more information https://

Top Agent Magazine

Copyright Top Agent Magazine 105

SASHA ALEXANDER GUREVICH Sasha Alexander Gurevich was in the middle of a successful career as a business analyst with a large computer software company when he decided he wanted to go in a different direction with his life. “I was making good money, but I was also spending most of my time in front of a computer screen,” he explains.

“I’ve always enjoyed working with people and I wanted something that would give me more opportunity to do that.”

His brother, a Realtor for over twenty years, had been encouraging him to give real estate a try. In 2016 Sasha finally took the leap, and is now a licensed agent with eXp Realty, representing clients all over the Brooklyn area, including Brighton Beach, Sheepshead Bay, Bensonhurst, Midwood, Madison, Homecrest, Sunset Park, Bayridge, Kensington Flatbush, Crown Heights, and all the way up to Williamsburg. He’s had no regrets. “One of the most rewarding things about this job is being able to make a positive impact on people’s lives. I love seeing the shine on people’s faces when we close their transaction and they get to start their new life. A lot of buyers later send me pictures of themselves and their home.”

Sasha’s passion for the work and his savvy when it comes to negotiating deals have resulted in a repeat client and referral rate of 80 percent. “I’m very transparent. I take the time to get to know my clients and what they need, and then I give them my best advice based on my experience. That’s earned me people’s trust, and they pass my name on to their friends and family.”

Another benefit of working with Sasha is his strong marketing skills.

“I’m a hardworking guy and when it comes to selling a property I’m very proactive, as opposed to just sticking up a sign and waiting for a buyer to show up.” Before the pandemic, he did a lot of door knocking and open houses in the neighborhoods of the homes he was listing, but for now he reaches out to potential buyers via phone, email and social media platforms. He also pushes his listings out to the nearly two thousand agents who do business in his area, as well as marketing on eXp’s national online platform, which networks over forty-five thousand agents. He posts pictures and videography of his homes to all of the social media platforms as a matter of course.

Sasha is very active in his time off. He volunteers with New York Cares, packing and distributing meals to homeless people in the Brooklyn area. He enjoys beach volleyball, as well as water sports like surfing and water skiing. He’s also a longtime devotee to yoga. “All of us need to make time to unwind, and this is a great practice to cultivate peace of mind.”

With a new baby on the way, that meditation is about to become even more essential!

His plans for the future of his business is to help more people with their real estate needs and help agents get the most out of their lives by partnering with one of the most modern, unique, agent-oriented, fastest-growing companies.

Real Estate Agent or Broker? Curious to learn more and open to new and exciting Real Estate Options?

Text “AGENTSUCCESS2” to 917-924-6611 to learn more.

If you need help selling, buying or renting your home please contact Sasha at: 718-908-4982 or email GurevichRealestate@gmail.com.

Curious to know how much your home is worth? Text “HOMEVALUE2” to 917-924-6611.

106

Copyright Top Top Agent Agent Magazine Magazine

Laughs!

Top Agent Magazine

107

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com

108

Top Agent Magazine